Two of the three Island County commissioners voiced support this week of a total ban of both the sales and ignition of fireworks.
Commissioner Helen Price Johnson initially proposed a change to the county’s fireworks ordinance to empower the fire marshal to ban fireworks under “extreme weather conditions.” However, Commissioner Rick Hannold proposed a compete, year-round, county-wide ban of selling and igniting fireworks.
“I realize it won’t sit pretty with some folks and I realize it may costs some votes,” Hannold said. “Oh, well.”
“I would support that,” Price Johnson said.
Unseasonably warm and dry weather, coupled with the use of fireworks in some cases, has lead to at least eight brush fires on the island this summer, according to Price Johnson.
Sheriff Mark Brown, who serves as the county’s fire marshal, said normally the burn ban on all other types of fire goes into effect after July 4. This year’s early ban has made things “more complicated,” he said.
Hannold made the case that while he’s ex-Navy and likes “blowing thing up,” the trade-off is not worth it if factoring in the fire dangers, the effect on pets and the elderly, and the resulting trash
Many local organizations use the sale of fireworks to raise money each year. Despite that, Hannold said “there’s other ways to make money besides setting explosives off in the air.”
“To allow people to sell them, and then turn around and say you can’t use them, that’s absurd,” Hannold said. “Why not put some teeth in the thing.”
County Prosecutor Greg Banks was directed to come back with an ordinance draft at a future work session for the commissioners to review. Price Johnson pointed out that even if the ordinance passes after a public hearing in the coming months, it will not take effect until 12 months after approval.
“This would give our community plenty of time to adapt,” Price Johnson said.
Commissioner Jill Johnson, who was not present at Wednesday’s meeting, said that she supports giving the fire marshal the authority to ban as necessary but not an all-out ban.
“What we’re hearing are emails from people who are concerned about the dry weather,” Johnson said. “I haven’t heard any support for (a total ban) in my district.
A main concern of Johnson’s is that the county is getting into the muddy area of legislating inconvenience.
“This is not a safety issue, it’s a nuisance and a noise issue,” Johnson said. “It’s making policy based on an experience people don’t want to be exposed to. “
“And we need to remember what it was like to be a 12-year-old kid,” Johnson said.
4 Comments
I would support a ban on non safe-n-sane fireworks, i.e., those which create sparks or detonate in ways that can, in turn, create brush and structure fires and cause severe injuries.
The cost of these more dangerous types of fireworks in terms of propery damage, personal injury, and the draw on public safety resources is considerable.
Allow them at organized public displays but otherwise ban them where the County has that authority.
That said, I am also aware that such a ban would be extremely challenging to enforce.
I completely disagree with Jill Johnson that this is a matter of convenience and not safety. The issue is that when there is danger of fire an immediate ban ought to be in place. Whatever has to be done to make that happen I’m for. I think it is absurd that a ban that is needed now during the driest and hottest season on record won’t do into effect for 12 months and there is no provision for an emergency ban. I believe both are needed.
I would like to see fireworks banned completely, global warming is not going to go away soon, therefore it is way to dry. I feel that taking fireworks to the beach is an ecological nightmare, please read Stung! Written by Lisa Ann Gershwin if you think otherwise.
Jill Johnson, “This is not a safety issue, it’s a nuisance and a noise issue,” Johnson said. “It’s making policy based on an experience people don’t want to be exposed to. “
Once more, Commissioner Jill (head in the sand) Johnson has not the foggiest idea about an issue. This IS a SAFETY issue, and a noise issue. Like her stand on the Growlers, Johnson holds the line for irresponsible thinking.