PORTLAND, Ore. — After an exceptionally high number of incidents last year, Portland Fire & Rescue says the city saw markedly fewer accidental fires caused by fireworks on and around the Fourth of July this year — though still more than in 2021 or 2022. Portland permanently banned all recreational fireworks starting in 2022, but they remain easy to purchase from sites in nearby cities.
PF&R responded to a total of 38 fires on the Fourth of July this year, but only 14 of them were found to have been caused by fireworks. The agency fielded 185 fire calls during the "firework season" of June 23 through July 6 (the dates when fireworks are legal in Oregon), 29 of which were found to have been caused by fireworks. The numbers are still tentative, PF&R said.
This year's totals are a substantial decrease from 2023 across all categories; PF&R said there were 67 fires on the Fourth of July last year, 30 of which were caused by fireworks, and 336 over the firework season, 46 of which were caused by fireworks.
There were also zero structure or vehicle fires caused by fireworks this year, compared to four structure fires and two vehicle fires last year.
It's more of a mixed bag when comparing to 2022, the first year of the permanent firework ban. There were more overall fires during the firework season that year, but fewer of them were caused by fireworks than in 2024. There were also fewer fires on the Fourth of July itself in 2022, including fewer fires caused by fireworks. On the other hand, there were a total of five vehicle or structure fires caused by fireworks in 2022, compared to zero this year.
Fireworks weren't permanently banned in Portland until 2022, but the city council enacted a one-time emergency ban the year before after the June 2021 heat dome created a much higher risk of fire danger. That year saw 15 fireworks-related fires throughout the season, but only three of them happened on the Fourth of July.
There was only one firework-induced structure fire that year, but it was a major apartment building fire that killed three people. There was also one other firework-related injury. Since 2021, there have been zero injuries caused by fireworks in Portland in any year.
