Crews busy with fireworks-caused fires on reservation

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Fireworks went on sale June 15th on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and since then, crews have been kept hopping with small grass fires started by fireworks.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Pine Ridge Agency Fire Management Office got reports of 185 fires between June 15th and last Sunday.

And about 80 percent were caused by fireworks.

Mike Twiss, a wildland-fires operation specialist, says there were about 140 fires last Friday, Saturday and Sunday alone. No injuries or structure damage has been reported.

Twiss says he's sure things will calm down soon when fireworks sales end.

Fire crews have been brought in from other reservations and elsewhere to help prevent a major fire. Two strike teams and a single-engine air tanker are standing by.

Also, about a dozen volunteer fire departments that cooperate with the B-I-A are responding to fireworks fires.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-04-07 1133CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list