The Richland City Council on Tuesday accepted a report on municipal fireworks costs as evidence that the city's fireworks law is prudent.
Richland is the only one of the Tri-Cities that allows fireworks to be set off within the city limits by private residents, provided the fireworks are hand-held sparklers or ones that stay on the ground.
Like the other cities, Richland prohibits aerial fireworks. And the city's number of fires caused by fireworks this year was about the same as the other cities, Fire Chief Grant Baynes reported.
"We don't see anything that shows there's a significant difference in the activity among the various Tri-Cities and rural areas here," Mayor John Fox said. "Illegal fireworks are easy to obtain nearby, and to attempt to enforce a ban ... would require several times as many police and fire personnel as we have available to us."
The Richland Fire Department from June 30 to July 5 responded to five fires caused by fireworks, four of which were attributed to illegal aerial fireworks, Baynes said. Fireworks caused three fires in Kennewick, five in Benton Fire District 1, two in Benton Fire District 4 and about eight in Pasco, though four of those reportedly were caused by the same juvenile, he said.
In Richland, the total property damage caused by the fires was estimated to be between $10,000 and $15,000, including damage to a home's roof and a Dumpster. About 10 acres burned in a brush fire near Meadow Hills Drive.
The city spent about $2,500 fighting those fires and assisting Benton Fire District 1 with a fire near Olympia Street and Highway 397. The city also spent about $1,500 cleaning up fireworks scraps and other debris that people left in parks, said Parks and Recreation Director Doug Strong.
Also Tuesday:
w The city council approved moving an art sculpture depicting children reading from John Dam Plaza to a location near the Richland Public Library, which will reopen next week after a renovation and expansion.
HAPO Community Credit Union in 1993 donated the bronze sculpture, called Storytime, by artist Gary Price. HAPO requested the move and offered to clean and restore the artwork and provide $2,500 toward a replacement artwork for John Dam Plaza.
w The council rejected a new policy on stormwater discharges, reversing its decision from three weeks ago when it approved the first reading of the ordinance. Councilman Bob Thompson swayed the majority with a speech pointing out perceived constitutional and legal flaws with the proposed policy.
w Joe Chapman: 582-1512; jchapman@tricityherald.com
Similar stories:
Fire destroys portion of Benton City garage
Fire destroys portion of Benton City garage
Half of a detached garage at a home north of Benton City was destroyed by fire Sunday.
The homeowner called Benton Fire District 2 after noticing smoke from under the eaves of the garage around noon.
No one was in the garage when the fire began, said Capt. Scott Hawley of Benton Fire District 2. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the fire under control.
W Richland vote on fireworks to be made later
W Richland vote on fireworks to be made later
A discussion of fireworks touched off several lively conversations among West Richland City Council members Tuesday.
But in the end, the council decided to take additional public comments at a town hall meeting to be held later this year.
A date has not yet been set.
W. Richland fireworks
W. Richland fireworks
I attended the West Richland City Council's fireworks workshop Aug 23. It was frightening to hear the council members responses to the perceived "fireworks problem" in West Richland. The only data available was provided by the police chief, who had carefully tabulated the earlier public response at the last city meeting. He provided factual background and data of that meeting and July 4 events. That was the last of rational information available.
Some council members wanted a total fireworks band and "put them in jail" response. Others had variations of similar thoughts. The city attorney and fire chief provided little input. The mayor suggested that another public meeting be held in the near future, which was agreeable to all.
If you want to preserve your ability to celebrate the birth of our nation, I suggest you all attend this meeting. There should be minutes of the meeting available from city hall for all who are interested in the council's performance.
Fire burns 500 acres near Benton City
Fire burns 500 acres near Benton City
BENTON CITY -- A brush fire near Benton City on Saturday afternoon burned an estimated 500 acres off Highway 225 at milepost 7.
No injuries or structures in the area were destroyed.
The cause of the fire still is under investigation, said Tom Nelson, Hanford Fire Department's batallion chief.
W. Richland fireworks
W. Richland fireworks
After reading the Sept. 6 letter from Lou Rodgers about the "perceived" fireworks problem in West Richland, it's apparent that he's out of touch with reality. Did he not notice the huge field fire on Flat Top Hill? This was a horrific blaze that threatened several homes. What about the several other grass fires that required the response of our fire department, placing their lives at risk? Did he not hear or observe the dangerous, annoying and illegal fireworks that were going off at all hours of the day and night, before, during and after July 4?
Why should those who blatantly break the law and place innocent residents in danger get a free pass each year? Doesn't the safety and security of law-abiding citizens matter? It's obvious that the majority of council members don't seem to care. Neither do our police officers, who apparently are either not properly trained in enforcing local firework laws, nonassertive in approaching those breaking the laws or have little or no skills in investigating these types
Print
Email Story
