Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeSaturday, Jun. 27, 2009
Mid-Columbia fire crews on alert as fireworks sales begin
By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer
Fireworks sales begin Sunday in some areas of the Mid-Columbia, and firefighters in the region will be on alert because of high danger of wildfires and inconsistent laws in area cities and counties.
Generally, fire officials advise people to stick with sparklers and not set off firecrackers, Roman candles, smoke bombs or anything else that shoots into the air and spits sparks.
As in years past, fireworks of any kind are not allowed in Pasco, Connell or elsewhere in unincorporated Franklin County. The same goes in Kennewick and in Benton County, but Richland, West Richland, Benton City and unincorporated Benton County allow limited use of fireworks
What fire officials worry about most is the fact that fireworks including Roman candles are legal for sale in West Richland, as well as Burbank in Walla Walla County. Those are sometimes bought and then used by residents of other areas where they aren't legal.
Also, tribal reservations legally sell fireworks such as firecrackers and cherry bombs that are illegal for use elsewhere in the state.
It can be confusing with different rules in different jurisdictions, but Ken Williams, fire marshal for Benton County, said the easiest way to be safe is to buy fireworks in the city where you plan to use them and to buy them from authorized stands.
Each fireworks stand has to be inspected and approved for what it can sell, he said.
"Our biggest problem is with people buying fireworks in Burbank, where they sell what is allowed (in Walla Walla County), and bringing them into Benton County where they aren't legal," Williams said.
Fireworks that are illegal in Washington include those that are legal for use on tribal lands, including all firecrackers, bottle rockets, so-called cherry bombs and M-80s.
The basic rule in unincorporated Benton County is no fireworks that leave the ground, said Mike Harris, division chief for Benton County Fire District 1. That means no Roman candles, bottle rockets or aerial spinners, he said.
That rule remains true in Benton County cities that allow limited fireworks use -- except for West Richland, which does allow Roman candles and aerial spinners, said Bill Cherwien, operations chief for Benton County Fire District 4.
He said firefighters are concerned wildfires could be ignited, especially if people begin setting off illegal fireworks.
Cherwien said a list of what's legal, including a picture page showing legal and illegal fireworks, is on the city's website at www.westrichland.org.
Kennewick's ban on all fireworks produces one or two violations with citations each year, said Lisa Beaton, city attorney. But since the ban was put into effect the city's firefighters have not had many problems with accidental fires.
Jim Hempstead, battalion chief for the Richland Fire Department, said they inspect fireworks stands to make sure they are set up safe and are selling only legal fireworks.
He said fireworks-related incidents are fewer since some of the more dangerous pyrotechnics like Roman candles and spinners were banned in the city.
For further safety, Hempstead advised: "Light them away from combustible materials, keep children a safe distance away, and have water, a bucket and some kind of tool such as a shovel or rake. And don't try to relight anything."
Questions about what fireworks are legal can be answered by calling the Richland Fire Department at 737-0911 or 942-7561 after hours.
Fireworks sales in areas where they're legal are allowed to continue until July 6 under state law. But use of fireworks also is banned on all federal and state-protected lands because of high fire danger.
People also should be very cautious with campfires, debris burning and choose parking areas that are clear of dry grasses and other flammable materials, said Tom Knappenberger, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service Region 6 in Portland.
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