Medical Lake has safe July 4, Fire Department's busy season continues

It was a relatively safe Fourth of July for the city of Medical Lake.

At the July 20 City Council meeting, Assistant Fire Chief Corey Stevens said the department had two fire trucks on patrol. They also received help from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and SCOPE.

“I’ve also got to give it to our citizens for taking part in the voluntary fireworks ban,” Stevens said. “The deputies did a great job of keeping it out of the streets.”

Medical Lake requested residents to refrain from using fireworks on July 4 due to the weather and potential threat of wildfires.

Although many residents took part in the volunteer fireworks ban, Stevens said there were people from outside of the city who came to Medical Lake to light off fireworks. He suggested the city begin discussions regarding the issue of fireworks before next year.

“Whether it’s a full ban or an amendment in the city’s code that allows the fire chief and assistant fire chief to call an emergency ban of fireworks based on weather conditions and fire danger,” Stevens said. “We need to start the conversation now to get the ball rolling.”

City Administrator Doug Ross agreed with Stevens about fireworks safety.

During the public safety report, Councilman Art Kulibert said the Fire Department responded to 58 incidents, which included 38 emergency services calls. Forty-two percent of the EMS calls went to the state hospitals.

“July will probably be over 50 calls,” Kulibert said. “We’re pretty busy.”

Stevens said the department has been busy the last couple of months, responding to many fires in the area. He added that the Fire Department has received requests to help local agencies, as well as ones from Oregon and California.

“It’s all hands on deck right now,” Stevens said.

In other business, Terry Cooper from Reimagine Medical Lake introduced herself to the council. She said the group wants to do what it can to help the city and work with the city to help revitalize the downtown area and bring in businesses.

City Administrator Doug Ross and Mayor John Higgins informed council they will meet with the secretary of the state’s Department of Social and Health Services on possible compensation for the fire and police services the city provides the state hospitals.

Ross told council that single-family homes that have used over 70,000 gallons of water received a door hanger asking them to reduce consumption. He added that the city continues to encourage residents to conserve water any way they can.

“Even if you use 40,000 gallons, cut back if you can,” Ross said. “It’s a summer-long thing and water restrictions will last until September.”

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.