911 shouldn’t be first call for illegal fireworks use

Even though they might not be legal in your community, chances are there will be at least a few big fireworks going off in your neighborhood this week.

The state Fire Marshall’s Office is worried emergency operators will get overrun with calls about illegal fireworks. They’re asking that you only call 911 if you actually see a fire or someone is hurt.

They say if it’s simply a case of a few explosions, you should call the non-emergency line for your local agency.

And you probably shouldn’t do what one Vancouver man did recently when his neighbor’s festivities became too much to handle.

Police say he fired three shotgun rounds into their house. No word if the neighbors were ever cited for their fireworks, but the 25-year-old shooter was arrested for assault.