Dry conditions could put a damper on Clark County’s traditional Fourth of July firework fun in 2016.
At its board time meeting Wednesday, the Clark County council discussed possible options for a last-minute ban on fireworks after several members of the public expressed fear of this year’s drought conditions.
Don’t fret, fireworks fans. The county can’t impose any changes this close to the holiday. It takes a year for new fireworks laws to go into effect.
Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said the council could consider an ordinance allowing it to declare a state of emergency and ban fireworks if conditions are too dry and dangerous. Depending on if and when the council takes such action, such an ordinance could go into effect in time for Fourth of July next year.
Dunaway tends to err on the side of caution regarding fireworks, saying in an email to Acting County Manager Mark McCauley and Community Development Director Marty Snell that any Fourth of July season “without fireworks is a safer one for everybody.”
“Unless we get substantial rain leading up to when fireworks go on sale … the conditions will be optimal for us to experience more fires than normal, with potential for them to be more damaging,” Dunaway said in the email.
Citing a dismal snowpack and unusually warm temperatures, Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency on May 15.
“We’re seeing things happen at this time of year that we have just never seen before,” Inslee said last month.
The Clark County council, meanwhile, seemed split on the idea of imposing additional restrictions on fireworks.
“Surely this isn’t the first dry year we’ve had,” Councilor Tom Mielke said. “I’d hate to make a policy on a single dry year.”
Councilor Jeanne Stewart, meanwhile, said any county ought to have the authority to do an emergency ban if necessary.
“There’s only two kinds of people,” Stewart said. “Those who love fireworks and those who hate them.”
She added that she’s of the mind that fireworks are a safety hazard.
Councilor David Madore encouraged Dunaway to advertise some of the risks of using fireworks, such as creating a tip sheet for fireworks stands to pass out. A proactive approach will ideally cut the chances of discussing a ban again next year, he said.
Fireworks go on sale in unincorporated Clark County on June 28 and can be set off from June 28 until July 4. Restrictions are tighter in Vancouver city limits, where fireworks can go on sale beginning July 2 and only can be set off on July 4.
Last year, the then-Clark County commissioners voted to separate the county into two fireworks zones, one north and one south of Northeast 219th Street. Starting this September, people south of the boundary will be allowed to discharge fireworks on July 4 and New Year’s Eve only. People north of the boundary will see no new restrictions, and also will be able to shoot fireworks off on New Year’s Eve.
The dates and times for selling fireworks in all unincorporated areas will remain the same, from June 28 until July 4. No fireworks sales will be permitted in December.
