Firefighters ask families to continue to help prevent wildfires as we enter October

CHENEY, Wash. — The season may be changing, but firefighters want families to remember that fire season is not over yet.

Spokane County Fire District 3 kicked off National Fire Prevention Week on Sunday with an open house at Station 31’s training center in Cheney.

The fire district set up family friendly activities, helped set up fires to put out in live demonstrations, and had multiple resource booths.

“Wildfire season is not over. We’re approaching the end of that season, but with the extended forecast, the dry fuels, we know that there’s still significant potential for wildfires in our community,” said Spokane County Fire District 3 fire chief Cody Rohrbach. “If we go back and look historically…firestorm, October 16th, 1991. We know that there’s still a good portion of fire season left until we get a significant weather event.”

As families shift their routines for the fall weather, Chief Rohrbach says they should be careful with heating devices, like heated lamps for example.

He notes that in most cases, heated devices have been sitting for a full year without use and has the potential to spark, which could lead to a structure fire.

“Make sure they’re well maintained and you’re following the manufacturer’s instructions,” Rohrbach said.

Right now, fire danger restrictions are in place for most types of burning. The fire chief says he is discussing them with federal, state and other local officials every week.

“Public safety professionals always want to get those restrictions reduced as soon as possible, but it’s also a risk management decision where we don’t want to simultaneously put our community at risk from that decision,” he said.

Fire Prevention Week continues now until October 10th. Click here for more tips to keep you and your family safe this fire season.