Grass Fire Puts Halt to Oak Creek Fireworks
The Oak Creek Fire Department contained the fire to a one-acre spot east of East Middle School, where the fireworks were shot off.
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The Oak Creek fireworks display was halted Wednesday night due to a grass fire just east of where the fireworks were shot off.
It took firefighters about 15 minutes to put out the fire, which was contained to about a one-acre piece of land near East Middle School, Assistant Fire Chief Rodney Palmer said.
The fire is officially under investigation, but it's believed to be caused by the fireworks, he said.
The extremely dry conditions caused several communities to cancel their fireworks, but Oak Creek went ahead under the fire department's close watch.
The department had prepared for such a scenario in the week leading up to July 4, working with the property owner and the Oak Creek-Franklin School District, which watered the area heavily to the point that there was standing water in some spots.
Fire officials told the crews launching the fireworks that if the department had to leave for a fire, the fireworks had to stop.
Oak Creek wasn't the only city where fireworks were halted — in Waukesha, several grass fires sprouted up and forced the stoppage of fireworks there.
Chris L
9:24 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Yet another blunder by the idiots in charge here in OC. These kinds of embarassing failures are what you all have to look forward to when it comes to Drexel Town Square, new schools, etc... Zero common sense, zero vision. Just embarassing.
Mike in OC
9:51 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
@chris... and if they would have called off the fireworks you would have written the exact same thing....
Mark Schaaf
9:57 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
agree, I think they were in a no-win situation.
Jill
9:57 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Now Chris, our fine city is "officially investigating." I mean it's a tough call when you mix a large display of ground fireworks with dry grass and trees and end up with fire. Who wouldn't have to fully investigate? It's not like a large group of people witnessed the event.
Joe Andreska
10:01 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Wow--the negativity. The good news is that a plan was formulated and when the fire started, the firefighters were there to act as planned. A grass fire from fireworks could happen any year...let's just be happy that the fire was contained and that no one was injured.
OC Mom
10:26 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Well said Joe - I completely agree.
TIM S.
11:59 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I agree Joe. The city went ahead with the fireworks knowing that fires were a possibility just as any other year. I commend the OCFD for being on the scene and getting the fire under control in a short period of time and also for their pre-planning in and around that area.
Andy
11:09 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Was that Chris Larson that posted that first comment.. Would make sense then. He's really the only idiot in office in OC. Move to Milwaukee MR. Positive. Everything is so much better there.
Kathy T
11:24 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I live very close to where they set the fireworks off and in years past have had hot embers drop on us while we are sitting on our deck watching the show.....I have to admit I was VERY nervous last night and was ready with the water hose! Lucky for us the wind wasn't blowing in our direction this year!
Neeq79
4:16 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I appreciate the city going ahead with the fireworks for enjoyment, they looked great from the elementary school parking lot on Shepherd....They had a plan in action in case a fire happened, it did, the plan worked...Franklin set off fireworks, no issues...Cudahy and S.M set off fireworks, no issues....To the original poster, please explain to me how this was a blunder?? What do fireworks have to do with any of the other issues? Seems like someone's cornflakes were extra soggy this morning!
Greg Dnamond
9:47 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Was the Superintendent paying attention? i think not. I bet she wasn't even at the the Oak Creek 4th of July events. She lives in downtown Milwaukee. We get what we deserve with her...
Mr.Ed
9:12 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Ok, I'll bite. What does the superintendent have to do with coming to the fireworks?
Resident of O.C. Paul
10:19 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Greg, Please enlighten us as to what the superintendent had to do with the fireworks and grass fire.
wiplayer
2:38 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Well someone had to get their "dig" in. I heard she wasn't here on the 3rd either LOL.