Camas, Woodland eye changing laws on fireworks

Potential ban would not stop Fort Vancouver’s July 4 show

Fort Vancouver’s annual Independence Day fireworks display will continue even if the city of Vancouver totally bans the sale of personal fireworks, which are a major revenue generator for the show.

The day of family activities and 20-minute fireworks show cost $318,000. Roughly a quarter of that amount comes from proceeds from fireworks-stand sales in the city, said Cara Cantonwine, director of programs for Fort Vancouver National Trust.

If the Vancouver City Council bans fireworks, Fort Vancouver staff would have to get creative about fundraising — but the show would go on, she said.

“We would have to reimagine how we produce the show, and we would have to get together with the community and try to figure out how to reformat how the show is produced and executed,” Cantonwine said. “That is a pretty large revenue gap to fill.”

The fort has permits for eight fireworks stands in Vancouver and six fireworks stands in the county. This year, the eight stands in the city generated $88,137. Next year, the eight stands are contracted to bring in $90,340, according to a predetermined rate the stands four operators have agreed to.

The six stands in the county brought in $27,833 this year, Cantonwine said.

— Amy M.E. Fischer

As the Vancouver City Council debates a ban on personal fireworks, two other cities in Clark County are considering changes to their fireworks regulations.

Camas is poised to vote on further restricting fireworks sales days and discharge times. Both Camas and Woodland are evaluating whether to grant city officials the authority to declare an emergency ban on fireworks during times of extreme fire danger.

The Camas City Council will vote Sept. 8 on whether to shrink the summer window for legal fireworks use from three days (July 1-4) to July 4 only and reduce the number of days when fireworks could be sold from four days to three. By restricting the fireworks discharge time to July 4, Camas would be in keeping with Vancouver and Washougal.

“I know the city of Vancouver is contemplating a total ban, but this is where we landed — a balance between both interest groups,” Camas City Administrator Pete Capell said Wednesday, referring to pro- and anti-fireworks factions.

The ordinance would reduce the sale of New Year’s Eve fireworks in Camas from five days to three days. The hours when fireworks may be shot off on New Year’s Eve would remain from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., however.

The ordinance also would include a clause for an emergency ban on fireworks.

A public hearing will be held before the council votes Sept. 8. Capell said he’s “very confident” the ordinance will pass because the council already has discussed it extensively.

The Woodland City Council will hold a workshop discussion early next year about amending its fireworks ordinance to allow the declaration of an emergency ban, Woodland Mayor Grover Laseke said Thursday.

By state statute, changes to fireworks laws take one year to go into effect.

Next summer, fireworks regulations the Clark County council adopted in 2014 for the county’s unincorporated areas will apply. The county will have two fireworks zones, north and south of Northeast 219th Street/state Highway 502. South of the boundary, fireworks can be shot off July 4 only. North of the boundary, fireworks can be shot off June 28 through July 4.

The Vancouver City Council seems inclined to a total ban of fireworks but is undecided about whether to hold a citizens’ advisory vote.

The council is expected to discuss the matter further in September.

Clark County fireworks sales and discharge days

Vancouver

Buy: July 2-4. Set off: July 4.

Camas

(current regulations; may change after Sept. 8)

Buy: July 1-5. Set off: July 1-4.

Washougal

Buy: July 2-4. Set off: July 4.

• Battle Ground, Ridgefield and Woodland

Buy and set off: June 28-July 5.

La Center

Buy: June 29-July 5. Set off: June 29-July 4.

Amboy and Yacolt

Buy and set off: June 28-July 4.