Fireworks may be illegal in Vancouver but on New Year’s Eve nearby municipalities allow people to celebrate with a flash and a bang.
Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground, Yacolt, Woodland and unincorporated Clark County — including some areas with Vancouver mailing addresses — allow the discharge of legal fireworks from 6 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1. Ridgefield delays firework discharge until 9 p.m.
Vancouver’s outright ban still applies. Neither the sale nor the discharge of fireworks is allowed within city limits. Violations come with a minimum $500 fine.
Firework laws still apply during this additional celebratory day, however.
Items including firecrackers, skyrockets, bottle rockets, M-80s and M-1000s are not allowed. Those interested in lighting fireworks are best served by purchasing from a licensed retailer for fireworks such as fountains and sparklers, according to the Clark County Fire Marshal’s office. In this region, one of the only retailers open is Mean Gene Fireworks in Camas.
“I’m the only one crazy enough to open up for New Year’s Eve,” said Gene Marlow, who runs the firework stand.
He said many don’t realize fireworks are legal this time of year. Clark County only began allowing December fireworks two years ago.
“And it’s the absolute safest time to do fireworks,” Marlow said. “You could not catch anything on fire if you tried.”
Assistant Clark County Fire Marshal Curtis Eavenson said residents should still heed safe disposal methods. Any used fireworks should be soaked in water and disposed away from the house.
“Often times they bring it into their garage and in the middle of the night you wake up with a full house on fire,” Eavenson said.
Sales begin Friday — noon to 9 p.m. — and continue through Sunday.
Marlow said the shop is fully stocked — with a heated tent — and it appears the weather on New Year’s Eve should accommodate a firework or two. Most customers prefer fireworks with the most bang for their buck, like grand finale repeaters and mortars, he added.
Any remaining legal fireworks from the Fourth of July can also be unpacked from the garage and used to celebrate 2018.
For the full rules, visit www.clark.wa.gov/community-development/fireworks.
