Holiday caution called for

Friday, July 2, 1999 | 11:02 a.m.

The fires of patriotic passion may burn this weekend all to the good. But officials are warning people to guard against the destructive fires that can result from incautious celebrations.

Four teams of inspectors from the Las Vegas Fire Department will be on the look-out this holiday weekend for illegal fireworks. Those found with them could be charged with a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and six months in jail, a department spokesman said.

"We had inspectors out last night and we had call after call of illegal fireworks," Tim Szymanski, spokesman for the Las Vegas Fire Department, said Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Land Management is warning public land users to exercise caution over the holiday weekend, particularly with vehicle catalytic converters and campfires. The BLM expects the fire danger to worsen over the weekend with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees and winds up to 30 mph or more.

The BLM is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for previous human-caused fires that have occurred in the Pioche and Panaca area.

Anyone with information can call 1-800-521-6501.

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