La Grande Fire warns dry conditions could spark wildfire on July Fourth

One spark could be enough to start a fast-moving fire in La Grande neighborhoods as July Fourth approaches and the ground stays extremely dry. La Grande Fire Department Chief Merle Laci used a June 24 message to urge residents to celebrate carefully, warning that illegal fireworks and any firework that flies or explodes posed a serious fire danger under current conditions.

Laci said the department would increase staffing and be ready to respond, but multiple fires could quickly stretch available resources. That warning puts the holiday in a different frame for Union County families this year: fireworks are not just a tradition, they are a local fire-season decision. Oregon State Fire Marshal guidance says illegal fireworks include sky lanterns, missiles, rockets, firecrackers, cherry bombs, M-80s, Roman candles and bottle rockets. Oregon law also prohibits fireworks that fly into the air, explode, or travel more than 12 feet horizontally on the ground without a permit from the state fire marshal. Violating that law is a Class B misdemeanor and can bring a fine of up to $2,500.

The caution comes as fire restrictions have already tightened across the region. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Northeast Oregon District put High Fire Restrictions in place effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, June 19, 2026, while Union County entered regulated use fire season immediately after the June 3, 2026 commission meeting. That countywide status is scheduled to remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2026 unless extended or modified. Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center has said wildfire risk in Northeast Oregon is increasing rapidly because of warmer and drier weather.

Union County Emergency Services said it works with local, state and federal partners to prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate natural and human-caused emergencies, a reminder that fireworks restrictions affect more than one agency or one holiday weekend. The La Grande Fire Department’s mission centers on protecting lives and property through safety education, fire code enforcement and emergency response.

The department has already shown it will tighten the rules when conditions worsen. In July 2024, La Grande Fire temporarily banned all fireworks and outdoor recreational fires, including cooking and charcoal fires, because of unusually high temperatures and dry conditions. This year’s warning carries the same message in sharper form: with fire danger already elevated, any celebration that sends sparks into the dry landscape could become a neighborhood emergency.