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Washington DNR urges caution ahead of Fourth of July after Idaho attack kills two firefighters
Summary
Washington State officials marked National Wildland Firefighter Day, honored two firefighters killed in an Idaho attack, and urged residents to prevent human-caused ignitions—particularly fireworks—after the department reported an early season surge of more than 600 fires statewide.
Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands, urged residents to take precautions ahead of the Fourth of July after an attack in Idaho killed two firefighters and critically injured a third.
Upthegrove opened a press conference on National Wildland Firefighter Day by citing the deaths of Battalion Chief John Morrison and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue member Frank Harwood, and saying Firefighter Dave Bridal remained critically injured and is recovering. “We owe it to our firefighters,” Upthegrove said, calling for a moment of silence and offering the department’s support to partner agencies and the families of the fallen.
The commissioner framed prevention as the most meaningful way to honor firefighters, noting Washington has seen an early and active fire season. “We’ve already had over 600 fires start in Washington State, about 400 of those on state-owned public lands,” he said. Upthegrove urged residents to avoid risky conduct over the holiday weekend—supervise minors, use fireworks only where legal and designated, ensure campfires are fully extinguished, and avoid dragging chains on dry grass.
“Don’t be an idiot. Don’t set the state on fire with your fireworks,” Upthegrove said, reiterating that human-caused ignitions and fireworks are persistent sources of wildfires; he cited roughly 270 fires statewide caused by fireworks last year.
Russ Lane, the Department of Natural Resources’ Wildland Fire Management Division manager, said the week of remembrance is an opportunity to learn from tragedy and to bolster safety and readiness. Lane described DNR resources—engines, hand crews, aircraft, heavy equipment and dispatch centers—and said many firefighters are already deployed.
Local leaders also emphasized partnerships and on-the-ground conditions. DJ Goldsmith, fire chief at Kititas Valley Fire and Rescue, said a recent nearby fire was contained to about 50 acres because of coordinated support from aircraft and heavy equipment, and warned that drought and gusty winds can make a single spark catastrophic. Mike Harris, vice president of the Washington Fire Chiefs and a Franklin County fire chief, urged continued education, mutual aid and statewide coordination.
The press conference ended with an invitation to questions and a reiteration of the prevention message. Organizers said resources and interagency cooperation remain in place as the state moves deeper into the Northwest fire season.
