Fire departments stay busy over July 4 holiday

While firework shows in Clovis and Portales last week created quite a picture in the sky, local fire departments stayed busy on the ground fighting flames. The calls and responses didn't stop for the departments until the sun came up Wednesday morning.

None of the incidents that occurred during the holiday caused major damage or injuries, according to fire officials.

Local fire departments start preparing for the Fourth of July holiday about six months in advance, according to Chris Elam, battalion chief for Clovis Fire Department.

The Portales Fire Department responded to seven fire calls and one emergency health call over the holiday. Probably the largest fire occurred in Roosevelt County along U.S. 70, across from the old Greyhound Stadium. According to T.J. Cathey, the Portales fire chief, the fire required the response of five units with eight personnel and mutual aid from the Clovis Fire Department. Cathey said this in turn "resulted in numerous changes for our scheduled standby for the fireworks show."

Cathey said Arch, Milnesand, Causey, and Dora Volunteer Fire Departments were kind enough to assist with the fireworks standby during their response.

"We sent mutual aid over there to help with two brush trucks and a tanker," Elam said. That was the only fire CFD had to assist with in Portales, but most of their night was consumed in Clovis with fighting dumpster fires across the city.

"We had quite a few yard fires and barrow ditch fires. We had about a dozen of those between the entire day," Elam said. The recent moisture in the last month helped keep the ground fires small, according to Elam.

Cathey said that toward the end of the fireworks show in Portales, a small fire was ignited near the shoot location but did not present any danger. "Fire personnel in conjunction with the pyrotechnic company delayed extinguishing the fire until the show had completed," Cathey said.

In Clovis, Elam said there were quite a few medical emergencies at the Smoke on the Water event at Greene Acres Park and across town. "We did have some individuals that had some fireworks to go off in their hands and things. So, we did, we did have a few medical transport calls due to the misuse of fireworks," he said. Some of their calls were also alcohol or drug related.

"Just the synergy effect with marijuana and alcohol now just causes people to get a little too intoxicated," Elam said.

The fire departments expect to stay busy for the holiday two weeks before and after the actual day of celebration.

"We were staffed with good experience and veteran leadership" at different standby areas, "so every unit had a senior staff member on it," Elam said.