Published: July 05, 2008 10:55 pm         

July 4th blazes keep firefighters poppin’

Enid firefighters were busy Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday battling eight grass fires that started within a four-hour period.

“It’s usually one of the busier days of the year, said Enid Fire De-partment Lt. John Kiernan of Fourth of July.

At least two of the grass fires were known to have started as the result of fireworks, Kiernan said.

Firefighters responded to grass fires at 2196 N. Imo and 5400 W. Fox, where fireworks started the blazes.

Firefighters received the call of a fire on Imo at 9:46 p.m. and sent an engine and grass rig to the scene, Kiernan said. At 10:12 p.m., two engines and two grass rigs were sent to the Fox grass fire.

Fireworks also contrib-uted to a fire about 12:35 a.m. at 8500 N. Van Buren.

Kiernan said an increased number of firefighters were dispatched to the North Van Buren grass and brush fire because of its proximity to a structure.

“We sent engines 1, 2 and 5 and rescue,” he said, “because it was so close to a structure. Kremlin and Hillsdale responded, as well.”

Grass fires also were reported at 9:34 p.m. at 1600 E. Wheat Capital; 10:05 p.m. at 202 Tanglewood; 11:03 p.m. at 6600 E. Market; 11:52 p.m. at 6900 W. Garriott; and 12:17 a.m. at 1413 N. 42nd. The causes of those fires have not been determined, according to EFD reports.

Enid Fire Marshal Ken Helms had said this year his office was going to “aggressively enforce” the city’s ban on fireworks.

City code makes it illegal for anyone to sell, possess, use or distribute fireworks within the city limits. Signs were posted on major thoroughfares outside the city reminding citizens of the ban, and a possible $500 and seizure of fireworks.

Last year, fires caused by fireworks destroyed one home in Enid and another suffered “significant damage” because of fireworks, Helms said.

Kiernan said the department’s assistant fire marshals worked until 3 a.m. Saturday.

Assistant Fire Marshal Kevin Winter said the night was “very hectic,” and he and the other assistant fire marshals were kept busy.

“There were three citations issued throughout the evening, but we also confiscated several bags full of fireworks,” Winter said. We were inundated with a lot more calls, more than we expected. We did not think there would be that much going on.”

Winter said the volume of calls received Friday night was much larger than the number of personnel they had to respond to calls.

No homes were damaged by fireworks during this year’s Fourth of July celebration.