Staff with the city and county fire marshal’s offices will continue patrolling and cutting tickets for fireworks violators Wednesday, as forecast high winds prompted the National Weather Service to issue a warning for increased fire danger in much of Clark County and the surrounding area.
The weather service said it expects east-northeast winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts at 30 to 40 mph, Wednesday in the eastern half of the county, greater Portland area and into the Columbia River Gorge. High temperatures for the Fourth of July holiday in Vancouver were forecast at 87 degrees.
With the wind accompanying high temperatures and low relative humidity, forecasters warn that conditions will be ripe for rapid fire spread, and encouraged residents to be careful with fire, especially around dry grass.
“A combination of the above conditions can contribute to extreme fire behavior,” forecasters warned.
Clark County Fire Marshal Jon Dunaway said Tuesday that county officials had already issued five citations for fireworks violations. The Vancouver Fire Marshal’s Office said Monday that it had issued six citations so far.
The county violations were south of Northeast 219th Street (also state Highway 502), the county’s demarcation line for where fireworks are allowed outside of July 4 in unincorporated areas. (Those rules will change next year.)
“We’re going to continue doing that at least through the 5th, and people in those areas should know, save your fireworks for the Fourth of July between 9 (a.m.) and midnight,” Dunaway said. Fireworks may not be discharged after July 4.
Depending on the volume of calls, he said, staff from the fire marshal’s office might continue writing up violators into the weekend.
From what he’s observed, however, it appears most people are doing a better job cooperating with the county’s fireworks regulations, and are waiting for the allotted launch times.
Dunaway said his office didn’t have a count on how many fireworks-related fire calls there have been in the county so far.
“If the pattern remains true, we see — more than anything else — vegetation fires due to fireworks,” he said.
Usually, they remain small, but can grow rapidly if the conditions are right, and if they aren’t tended to quickly.
“We’re just asking people to be safe, watch your surroundings and police the area really well before and after your fireworks use,” he said.
Fireworks rules for Wednesday vary depending on where they’re lit:
• North and south of Northeast 219th Street; cities of Amboy, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Washougal, Woodland and Yacolt: Fireworks OK from 9 a.m. to midnight.
• La Center: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The sale and use of fireworks are banned within Vancouver city limits. Violators can be fined $500 or more. County fines for illegal possession and use of fireworks can reach up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail.
