Police and fire report steady Fourth of July response, cite need for beach UTV

Police and fire department officials reviewed June and Fourth of July weekend operations at the Ocean Shores Public Safety Committee on July 21.

The police department representative reported that June calls for service totaled 933 and that traffic stops for the month were 259, with 157 citations issued. For the July 3–5 holiday period the department recorded 232 calls for service, 80 traffic stops, 7 criminal citations, 21 notices of infraction and 3 arrests, including one DUI. "Our calls for service totaled 933," the police department representative said. The speaker credited collaborative planning with the sheriff's office, state patrol, parks, the Grace Harbor 911 Communication Center and volunteers from Avert for overall operational success.

Fire department staff described multiple holiday incidents, including five dune fires and one larger fire in the Torres area that prompted use of a dozer, as well as a home childbirth and a severe hand injury. "We had 61 calls for service," the fire department representative said when summarizing the busiest period. Both departments highlighted a recurring operational gap: vehicles could not always reach incidents on soft sand. Speakers said a side-by-side/UTV would allow responders to access dunes and transport patients toward ambulances more quickly; volunteers had previously loaned such equipment but it was no longer available. Departments said they will pursue options to secure an appropriate vehicle and coordinate with Avert and Public Works on future event staffing.