Will fireworks be banned in Benton County next year? Commissioners have a plan
Benton County could ban fireworks in unincorporated areas around the Fourth of July — but only if the Southeast Washington area is considered to be at “extreme” fire danger risk.
County commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance last week allowing them to prohibit shooting off all types of fireworks starting in 2023 between June 28 and July 5.
The ordinance goes into effect a year from now, meaning no changes are likely this upcoming summer. Starting summer 2023, commissioners will decide if the ban is warranted based on how dry the environment is.
A ban would effect only those living in “unincorporated” parts of the county, not those living within a city limits. Richland, Kennewick, West Richland, Prosser and Benton City have their own fireworks regulations.
The decision will be based on the region’s “Energy Release Component” — a composite moisture index fire managers use to measure the fire danger potential of a season.
Washington State Department of Natural Resources, as well as other state and federal land managers, measures an area’s energy release value on a scale from 0 to 17, with 0-3 being “low” risk for fire danger and 17 being an “extreme” risk.
If Benton County’s level meets or exceeds 17 around the week of June 19, the new ordinance would allow commissioners to enact an outright ban on fireworks for the upcoming holiday.
County commissioners will ultimately be the ones to make the call on whether a ban goes into effect, said Benton County Fire Marshal Clark Posey.
The region has only twice reached Level 17 in the last decade — in 2015 and just this last summer. Record-breaking heat and an extended dry spell last year resulted in dozens of fires calls in the around the Tri-Cities last Fourth of July.
But Posey is worried things could get worse.
“I’d say we were lucky because we were awful, awful dry (last summer) and I don’t see that getting better really in the near future,” he told the Herald.
As Eastern Washington summers get hotter and hotter, the risk of brush or structure fires caused by fireworks will increase, Posey said. That may put a strain on local fire services and engines already busy during the height of fire season.
The new ordinance gives Benton County commissioners that flexibility they need to be able to lessen that danger and act proactively, he argues.
Posey said he also realizes the obvious difficulties with enforcing such bans. But at the same time, the ordinance would do some good in cracking down on the worst offenders in Benton County.
“Even the chiefs realize it’s going to be hard to enforce, but at least it’s going to be an avenue to enforcement,” he said.
Firework policies in the Tri-Cities
Kennewick, Prosser, Connell and unincorporated Franklin County have all banned firing off private fireworks. That includes the portion of Franklin County that’s surrounded by Pasco that’s referred to as the “donut holes.”
Pasco, Richland, West Richland and Benton City all allow fireworks around the Fourth of July holiday, but they limit the types of fireworks and most forbid aerials.
In Richland, Benton City and unincorporated Benton County, such as Finley, people are limited to sparklers, fountains and novelty snaps. Ground spinners and smoke devices are not allowed.
Pasco also has limits on the type of fireworks that can be shot off.
This story was originally published March 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
