Restrictions aim to keep fireworks safe
July 01, 2008 - 12:00 PM
by Staff Report
by Staff Report
Jenny Bailey, 5, left, watches as her 10-year-old brother Wilbur Bailey, right, helps Steve Spane with a “Venom King” fireworks pack Sunday. Spane and his wife run Shari Lee’s fireworks stand on the Upper Skagit Indian Reservation. They are in their sixth summer of business.
In many minds, fireworks and Fourth of July go together like mom and apple pie.
But that’s not the case in every town or city — including several communities in Skagit and Island counties — where fireworks use is restricted or banned because of past problems with fires ignited by devices ranging from children’s sparklers to illegal bottle rockets.
So far, the restrictions in Skagit’s major cities appear to be working, firefighters say.
Last year, nine fireworks-related fires and one injury were reported in Island County while Skagit had 36 fires and seven injuries, according to the State Fire Marshal.
It was a considerable drop from the dozens of blaze, including at least two homes and the roof of a church, reported in 2003 and 2004.
In general, only fireworks designated as “safe and sane,” also called Class C, are legal in Washington state. Those devices can only be used from June 28 to July 5. However, counties and municipalities can impose additional restrictions.
Communities such as La Conner allow the so-called safe and sane ban legal aerial “cake-style” fireworks.
Some American Indian tribes allow other types of fireworks to be ignited on their reservations.
This year, State Patrol troopers will work during the holiday and weekend on the Washington State Ferries vessels to screen for customers carrying illegal fireworks, which will be confiscated.
The following is a list of fireworks area restrictions:
Unincorporated Skagit and Island counties:
• Legal fireworks are allowed in most of the unincorporated areas Skagit and Island counties provided they are ignited between the following times:
- 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to Thursday, July 3
- 9 a.m. to midnight Friday, July 4
- 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 5
• Fireworks are prohibited on public lands managed by the federal or state governments, such as in North Cascades National Park.
Other local restrictions and bans are as follows:
• Anacortes: Ban on all fireworks.
• Burlington: Ban on all fireworks.
• La Conner: Non-aerial fireworks only from 9 a.m. to midnight July 4.
• Mount Vernon: Non-aerial fireworks only from noon to midnight July 4.
• Sedro-Woolley: Allowed only from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4.
• Swinomish Reservation: Fireworks permissible between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. weekdays, until 11 p.m. weekends and until midnight on July 4, except within 300 feet of buildings.
• Upper Skagit Reservation: Fireworks allowed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 20 to July 6 in the ball field, except from 9 a.m. to midnight July 4, when the fireworks area includes a small designated area near the tribal housing complex.
• Oak Harbor, follows state law, except all fireworks are prohibited in city parks and on school campuses.
• Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, all fireworks are prohibited on Navy property, including base housing.
