Fourth of July Keeps Fire Department Busy, Bonney Lake Awake

Distress calls generally increase during a holiday weekend and the Fourth of July this year was no different. stayed busy across the district with a 50 percent increase in call volume on Saturday, including a structure fire in Milton at an abandoned fireworks stand, said an East Pierce Fire and Rescue spokesperson.

The weekend began with a boat fire on Lake Tapps at , which started sometime around 8 p.m. on Fri., July 1. Firefighters arrived to find a 19-foot Bayliner engulfed in flames floating against the number one dock at the park marina. No one was on board – the passengers were able to safely evacuate when the driver discovered smoke coming from the engine compartment, where the fire apparently originated.

McCallion said East Pierce firefighters responded to a number of small grass fires throughout the district in addition to firework incident calls.

Patch checked in with Bonney Lake and Sumner police -- both agencies saw an increase in calls over the weekend, but the incidents were generally minor.

Even so, the good weather and local festivities kept Bonney Lake awake, said Councilmember Mark Hamilton at the July 5 city council study session. It has been such a consistent issue in past years that the council members debated putting a firework ban on an upcoming ballot.

“I’ve never been in a war zone, but last night between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. I think I was,” said Hamilton. “This year seemed worse [than others], in my opinion.”

Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson voiced his concern for the strain increased call volume has on local resources.

“I was at Allan Yorke [on the fourth of July] and I was watching the officers deal with issues at the boat launch and working with the crowds. And then they have to chase those [fireworks] all night long,” said Johnson. “We have dealt with this problem every year.”

Councilmember Dan Decker challenged the notion that fireworks within city limits should be more regulated – he argued that there just aren’t enough resources to sustain firework enforcement.

“The expense of [a firework ban] would be so outrageous, why are we even talking about it?” said Decker. “They were going off until 3 a.m. [last night] and I had to get up at 5:30, but I still enjoyed it. It’s the fourth of July… why should we step on people’s rights to feel good about the celebration?”