YACOLT — With firework sales outlawed everywhere else in Clark County, many made the trip to the town of Yacolt to stock up on the colorful explosives for the Fourth of July weekend.
Les Clifton, who’s been operating Yacolt’s only fireworks stand for decades, anticipated his biggest sales in years. His stand drew customers from dozens of miles away, including from Oregon.
“People will find them if they’re available,” he said.
Although he knows that some people are hesitant to buy fireworks this year, especially the big airborne ones, he still anticipates selling out — just like last year.
While all other parts of Clark County banned fireworks this year due to the dry conditions and fire risk, Yacolt Mayor Katie Listek said that Yacolt’s municipal code doesn’t give her the authority to make that call. Still, she said nothing’s changed for her town, where people have been mindful of their fireworks every year.
“I’m always concerned about safety,” she said, “I’ve got four kids, and no one wants their house to burn down. But be responsible and be respectful as always.”
Looking around the baseball field where the town normally holds its Independence Day fireworks show, Listek noted the green grass and flowers still blooming in Yacolt. She was surprised at all the places that chose to prohibit fireworks because she said she’s seen much drier years that went without fireworks bans in the area.
As of Saturday, Clark County’s fire risk was measured in the high category. Clark County officials banned fireworks earlier in the week when the county reached extreme fire risk, as measured by the state Department of Natural Resources. The county also met other metrics, like the fuel moisture content, that allowed officials to forbid fireworks. Other cities in the county, including Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, Washougal, Ridgefield and La Center all enacted their own fireworks bans.
Fun, fundraiser
A Yacolt resident named Steph, who declined to give her last name, was planning to limit fireworks for her family to sparklers because they’re more easy to control, she said. Although her family usually leaves the big productions to others for the Fourth of July, she said she’s extra cautious this year with the dry conditions and last year’s brutal wildfire season.
“I care about my family, my animals, my community, my neighbors. I wouldn’t want that to be on me,” she said of the potential for fireworks to spark a fire.
She brought her kids to the morning parade in town. Today, they’ll hang out at home and barbecue.
“I can live without fireworks,” she said.
Listek was decked out in red, white and blue Saturday after driving a riding lawn mower — which was also covered in the patriotic colors — in the Fourth of July parade earlier in the morning. Crowds flocked to Clifton’s stand once the parade was over.
Yacolt’s big fireworks show was still cancelled this year, when the town halted plans a few months ago due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Nearby fire departments have also staffed up on volunteers for the holiday to ensure they’re ready in case of any fires, she said. Listek encouraged those concerned about fires to volunteer.
More recently, Clifton’s stand serves as the town’s Little League program’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Some who are foregoing fireworks this year are choosing to donate to their fundraiser instead, Clifton said.
Christine Roberts feels bad for the sellers in the rest of the county who had to shut down their stands since so many of them raise money for other organizations. It was important to her to keep their stand open this year to be able to cover registration fees and other Little League costs. Roberts said she’s reminding people to be responsible, and she can tell people are excited to have their fireworks.
Nate Fear drove from Portland to Yacolt Saturday to buy mortar shells and spend the Fourth of July weekend enjoying fireworks like he always does.
He and Patrick Rose said they would have gone wherever they needed to in order to have their fireworks, but they happened to have family in Yacolt.
They have been posting and seeing others remind people on social media of some tips to prevent fires and be safe with fireworks. Rose said it’s also important for people to look out for their neighbors.
Supplies
Despite the demand, Clifton has had supply chain problems when trying to stock his stand. He has a shipment of 77 cases of fireworks that was coming from China but never made it here, he said. He had more orders expected Saturday and today that he might have to go pick up in Aurora himself.
His orders were also more expensive this year, with shipments costing double what he paid last year.
Still he anticipates matching the sales he did last year on the Fourth of $20,000 that day alone — if he has the product.
