Spokane raises fireworks fine

The fine for shooting off fireworks in the city of Spokane is going to increase from $103 to $513.

The Spokane City Council on Monday voted 5-2 in favor of an ordinance raising the fine to stem the persistent illegal use of fireworks.

The measure boosts the offense from a class-3 to class-1 civil infraction.

In other business, the council voted 5-2 in favor of an ordinance that limits the demolition of historic buildings if owners don’t have plans for replacement structures. The ordinance seeks to prevent destruction of older buildings for surface parking lots, and comes after a downtown property owner considered demolition of the Rookery and Mohawk buildings.

The fireworks fine increase came from a recommendation by Fire Chief Bobby Williams, who said he wanted the help enforcing the city’s 13-year fireworks ban.

“I really think this is an issue of deterrence,” said Council President Dennis Hession.

He was joined by council members Joe Shogan, Cherie Rodgers, Al French and Mary Verner in supporting the change.

Council members Bob Apple and Brad Stark voted against it.

Stark said he supports the ban on fireworks use. “I question whether increasing the fine fivefold is the answer,” he said.

Apple said he is concerned that children would be caught using fireworks and then face a large fine.

Fireworks were banned in Spokane starting in 1993 because scores of fireworks-related fires and injuries were occurring each year. Fires and injuries dropped dramatically after the ban went into effect.

Williams said nearly 400 calls were logged over a fireworks telephone hotline set up to take complaints from citizens. He said many callers were unhappy with the danger posed by illegal fireworks.

The fire department this year responded to four fireworks-caused fires, while only one injury was reported several days after the July Fourth holiday. The ban, he said, has been very effective at reducing fires and injuries.

Four teams of fire officials roamed the city over the holiday and issued 22 citations, he said. Some fire officials have special commissions to enforce the fireworks ban.

Williams said the fine “will make people think twice whether they use fireworks” and possibly slow a trend of increased fireworks use in recent years.

The city of Seattle has set a $500 fine.

Spokane Valley fire officials enforce a fireworks ban under provisions of state law, which makes illegal fireworks use a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Williams said the fire department can seek to collect the cost of putting out a fireworks-caused fire from anyone responsible for setting it. Also, a violator – or the parents of a juvenile violator – may be liable for property damage caused by fireworks, officials said.

The ordinance limiting demolitions of historic buildings replaces a moratorium put into effect in 2004 after the owner of the Rookery, Mohawk, Merton and other adjacent buildings had obtained a demolition permit and planned to turn the land into a parking lot. The Merton and adjacent smaller buildings were demolished, but the Rookery and Mohawk may be sold for a redevelopment project.

The new law limits demolitions of buildings that have either been listed as historic or are eligible for listing in the downtown area as well as in historic districts outside of downtown.

Council action on the ordinance came after preservationists and business representatives negotiated a compromise that would allow demolition if the owner were facing economic hardship.

Councilman French sought to ease the restrictions by eliminating historically eligible buildings from the ordinance, but lost his amendment on a 5-2 vote. He was joined by Apple in opposing the ordinance.

“Historic buildings are a community resource,” said Councilman Brad Stark.