Your Thursday evening update on Salem news
Good evening, Salem.
City officials lifted the city’s burn ban Thursday morning after imposing an outdoor fire and fireworks ban at 1 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
“City, and fire officials are urging the community to remain cautious and mindful of the dry conditions. It’s essential to practice fire safety measures when engaging in outdoor burning. This means taking necessary precautions to prevent accidental fires and being responsible for using fireworks or any open flames,” the city said in a statement.
The city imposed the fireworks ban last minute because shifting weather conditions led to a red flag warning being issued Tuesday morning, Salem Fire Deputy Chief Brian Carrara said. The warning meant conditions were ripe for a fire to burn out of control quickly: low humidity, high temperatures and wind.
Carrara said fire officials had to consult with Mayor Chris Hoy, city council and City Manager Keith Stahley as well as the local fire defense board before making a decision.
He acknowledged there was little enforcement of the ban, because police resources are limited and the fire department has only six deputy fire marshals.
“There’s not enough personnel to be proactive on the Fourth of July,” he told Salem Reporter.
One correction to yesterday’s evening edition: in a recap of Independence Day fire calls, we misspelled Carrara’s last name. Our apologies.
Now, here’s some other news of the day. Catch all of our latest stories on our website anytime.
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