[Previous entry: "Meetings On Proposed SJ Aquatic Reserve"] [Next entry: "Bob Boyce"]

04/02/2008: "Fireworks Ban Under Consideration"

(Chief Marler, Under Sheriff Zerby, EMS Chief Cole & Fire Marshall Low appear before Council)

"If Fireworks Are Outlawed, only Outlaws will have Sparklers" Citing safety and fire concerns, the County Council once again took up the topic of fireworks, and the possibility of a ban on all fireworks in San Juan County; with the one exception of professionally licensed displays.

There are currently two categories of fireworks in Washington state, those that are allowed, the so-called “safe and sane” (such as “sparklers”), and those that are illegal for private use (such as firecrackers).

At the Tuesday Council meeting Under Sheriff Zerby said an outright ban would make their job easer with respect to knowing that all fireworks are illegal, so that when they responded to a call they would be able to quickly resolve it, and not have to spend time determining which were allowed and which were not.

A San Juan and Orcas Fire Chief, an EMS Chief, and the County Fire Marshall, all urged the Council to enact a total ban on all fireworks in San Juan County, except those handled by professionals in permitted public pyrotechnic displays.

In May of 2007 Sheriff Bill Cumming had informed the Council that the time period for legal fireworks is only one day. He reported that it is becoming more difficult to determine the difference between “safe and sane” fireworks and illegal fireworks, but anything used other than on the 4th is illegal in the county.

Sheriff Cumming had concluded his remarks in 2007 by stating that although he did not condone the use of illegal fireworks, he understands that some consider the use of legal fireworks as a tradition, and, given the history of incidents, he would not suggest changing the current regulations.


.
(continued from front page)
On Tuesday Councilman Alan Lichter asked the chiefs for statistics on accidents and fires that related to the use of fireworks. San Juan Island Fire Department Chief Steve Marler noted that the County has not had “horror stories” about injuries and damage done by fireworks in recent years, but urged the Council not to wait for a disaster before acting. “one injury is one too many” he said.

Fire Marshal Robert Low Speakers citied some statewide numbers that indicated that in 2003 there were 1000 fires and 1300 injuries resulting from legal, consumer fireworks that were classified as “safe and sane”
.
Council Member Rich Peterson is a retired Fire Chief of Santa Barbara, and said that while there is a need for a “whole lot of public input on this,” and knows that many people would be supportive of a total ban, but he also knew that there are those who would say ‘It’ll be a cold day in hell when they take sparklers away from my kids.’”

Fire Marshal Low countered that sparklers burn at 2000 degrees. “Some of the worst burns I’ve seen on young children were caused by sparklers,” he said.

Council members Gene Knapp and Kevin Ranker joined Lichter in calling for additional information to justify the case for a total ban, and agree with Peterson for the need of full citizen input
“It is a very emotional issue,” Chief Marler said, “For some people it raises issues of patriotism and tradition.”

County Prosecutor Randall Gaylord said that based on past Council discussions his office had a drat proposed ordinance that he would forward to them for their review and discussion.

The proposed fireworks ban would not affect this year’s Fourth of July

If San Juan County were to ban fireworks, they would join 58 other cities and counties in the state that now totally ban the use of consumer fireworks.