Walla Walla Fire Responds to 3rd Highest July 4th Calls Ever

Fire calls to the Walla Walla Fire Department on the July 4 Holiday were the 3rd highest total since 2000, but the dollar damages are among the lowest–the 24-hour period of the holiday.

    WWFD Answers 17 Calls During the July 4th Holiday

Brendan Koch, Communications Manager for the City of Walla Walla, released information about the 4th of July Holiday fire calls.

The Department says since 2000, this year was the third-highest, with 17.  In 2023, they responded to 25, in 2003, there were 19.  The lowest number of calls ever was in 2010, with 1.

   This Year Somewhat Low on the Property Damage Count

While the number of calls were high, the dollar damages were moderate, compared to some years. 15 of this year’s calls were officially determined to be from fireworks, one was indeterminate, and one call resulted in crews not finding any blaze.

The total dollar damages this year were estimated to be $15,000, which is 7th highest. The most property damage occurred in 2023, when the 25 fires damaged $187,760 of property.  2022 saw $175,000 in damages, while 2007 saw $50,000 in damages.

The lowest property damage amounts were -0-, a four-way tie in 2004,2012, 2014, and 2018.

  The City Also Determined Department Costs

The highest department cost was in 2025, $3,800, and in 2009, $3,090. These are costs incurred by the Department in fighting the blaze.   This year, 2026, the Department cost was $2,200.