Noise. Terrified pets. Cringing military veterans. Pollution. Fire danger.
Recounting horror stories of their July 4 weekends, eight community members asked the Vancouver City Council on Monday to ban personal fireworks, saying they have no place in a densely populated area.
Jennifer Reed told the council she recruited a friend to keep an eye on her Vancouver home while she left for the holiday weekend. Her friend called July 5, saying, “don’t worry, we got there in time — we put the fire out that started in the grass in your backyard.”
While it’s a shame to have to consider banning fireworks, Reed said, “I also don’t think this town has shown it knows anything about moderation and common sense when it comes to fireworks. So maybe there isn’t any choice.”
No one in the audience spoke in favor of continuing to allow fireworks July 4, the only day of the year it’s legal to shoot them off in city limits.
The council will hold a workshop Aug. 17 to review this year’s fireworks statistics, discuss the city fireworks policy and examine whether to change the city ordinance that allows fireworks to be shot off on the Fourth of July. At their last meeting on July 6, several councilors expressed support for an all-out fireworks ban.
“Let’s not tap dance on this politically,” Vancouver resident David Schmitke told the council Monday. “Let’s do what every major metropolitan city in the state of Washington has already done. Let’s ban the boom.”
Resident Shareefah Hoover said that more than a week after the July 4 holiday, she still hears fireworks going off at night. A fireworks ban would ease pressure on police and fire resources, she said.
“Fireworks are a privilege, not a right,” Hoover said. “It’s about common sense, reasonableness and civilized society.”
By state statute, changes to fireworks laws take one year to go into effect. That means if the council did adopt an all-out ban or enact an ordinance allowing declaration of an emergency fireworks ban during times of extreme fire danger, the new regulations wouldn’t apply until after July 4, 2016.
“It’s your duty to protect this community,” Vancouver resident Ben Maxwell told the council. “We need to put a stop to this.”
