Portland Fire & Rescue released preliminary data on this year's fireworks season, revealing a decline in firework-related fires and injuries. According to the statistics published on Wednesday, the fire department responded to 185 fires from June 23 through July 6, of which only 29 were caused by fireworks. Comparatively, there were no fireworks-caused injuries reported this season, marking a significant drop from the previous years' numbers.
Despite the ban on personal fireworks within the city of Portland, access to these materials remains relatively easy due to the proximity of areas where they are still legal. The PF&R data indicates a reduced number of structure and vehicle fires associated with fireworks, with no such incidents recorded during the 2024 season, even while PF&R was actively responding to greater alarm fires, including two on July 4th which kept one crew engaging through the night.
The latest report shows a downward trend when juxtaposed with previous years. In 2023, there were 336 fires reported during the same period, with 46 linked to fireworks. The previous year, 2022, saw 224 fires, with just 10 attributed to fireworks. These numbers present a stark contrast to the ominous figure from 2021, where 307 fires were reported, and fireworks caused 15, including one that led to a tragic tally of three deaths.
On Independence Day itself, Portland witnessed 38 fires in 2024, with fireworks being the confirmed cause in 14 instances. This is a substantial decrease from the 67 fires reported on July 4th in 2023, where fireworks were the culprits in nearly half the cases.
