Firefighters from the Yakama Nation and Yakima County Fire District 5 conducted a series of controlled burns near Ahtanum Ridge on Thursday. The fires were meant to reduce the amount of fuel that could be ignited by people using fireworks during the Independence Day holiday, according to the fire district. Fireworks are allowed on Yakama Nation land, but not in the county. The burning started around 10 a.m. with a patch of at least 5 acres burned off.