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July 3, 2011 in City
Fireworks ban extinguishes fun for some revelers
Instead of planning a Fourth of July celebration in their front yard across from Sunset Park, Mike and Joleen Grandboys spent Saturday sealing their driveway.
(Full-size photo)
With new restrictions on the use of fireworks within city limits this year, Airway Heights has lost its spark.
The West Plains city was the last within Spokane County to allow “safe and sane” devices in parks and city streets until the City Council voted last month to ban fireworks from public areas.
The June 20 decision is frustrating for many in the community – bordered by Fairchild Air Force Base – who said the Independence Day holiday has always been a boost to the local economy.
“We are really bummed,” said Joleen Grandboys, who lives across from Sunset Park. In years past, the city’s largest public park would be flooded with revelers looking to light fireworks on the Fourth of July, she said.
“You’d see them coming in, sometimes with hand trucks full,” of fireworks, said Grandboys, whose son is deployed in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps. “We usually hauled out the tables and chairs” to watch the free and nonchoreographed show.
Fireworks will still be allowed within the city limits but only on private property, said Airway Heights Fire Chief Mitch Metzger.
“No city parks or playfields, no parking lots, no roads or streets in a manner that obstructs or interferes with vehicles,” Metzger said. Vacant lots, regardless of ownership, are also off limits because of fire danger.
Violators could face up to 90 days in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
Public safety was the primary reason for the changes, Metzger said.
“In the past, the city streets have been so clogged with parked cars and people trying to light off fireworks it was nearly impassable for cars and city officials – police and fire – to pass through,” he said.
Police will be out enforcing the restrictions, making sure that those lighting fireworks on private property have the owner’s permission, Metzger said.
Residents said it isn’t unusual for thousands of people from Spokane and surrounding cities to crowd streets and local parking lots to light fireworks wherever they could find a spot. Those visitors stop to buy food, drinks and fireworks.
“(Police) usually closed down the street,” near the park, said Kayla Crawford, who was selling “safe and sane” fireworks Saturday at a stand on Highway 2 sponsored by the Airway Heights Lions Club. Business was down on the first day of sales, Crawford said, a concern for the Lions, who will provide a percentage of the proceeds from the stand to low-income children and families.
“We aren’t going to stop because of this stupid ban,” said Jerry Ramson, who purchased more than $50 worth of sparklers, fountains, snaps and other fireworks from the stand. “We’ve got them, and we’ll find somewhere to light them.”
Staff writer Chelsea Bannach contributed to this report.
Man dies following early Saturday accident 
westerly on July 03 at 8:20 a.m.
Spokane area really suck as to fire works. West side has many cities allowing fire works. And they are high population areas also, Kirkland, Snohomish, Monroe, Lake Stevens, Arlington and on and on.
jessiepn on July 03 at 9:08 a.m.
Westerly, if you stopped to reflect for even a moment, you might realize that there’s at least one big difference between eastern Washington and western Washington, that being amount of rainfall. The ban on fireworks in many cities in Spokane County isn’t about spoiling people’s fun on the Fourth of July, but about preventing fireworks-caused brushfires. Ask your local firefighters whether it spoils their fun not to have to worry about fighting fires in weather that sometimes can be tinder dry by July 4.
hunternomore on July 03 at 11:32 a.m.
Usually drier here than the West side? Oh please! When was the last time THAT was true. This weekend is an anomaly. It probably has more to do with not wanting to pay the costs involved to police the streets.
cryssT on July 03 at 2:14 p.m.
The firefighters take the job knowing that they are paid to fight fires. I’ve lived here a long time and it was rare that brush fires occurred because of fireworks. More so that people are stupid and injure themselves with fireworks of all types. Why not use the community sport activity fields for fireworks? Why should everyone have to cram themselves into downtown to see fireworks? Just limit it to Safe & Sane and have a very hefty fine for those who violate the rules.
Teseract on July 03 at 2:25 p.m.
I personally suspect that these bans have more to do with cutting accidental fire costs for insurance companies than “keeping the public safe”. I bet they’ve saved many tens of thousands of dollars due to the ban.
We also live in a society with a “gotta save everyone, even from themselves” mentality as well. Being a kid and lighting off fireworks was a good way to teach caution, as I, like many kids, thought I was invulnerable until being taught otherwise. I never had any injuries, but it’s hard to light off something that explodes in fire with a short fuse and NOT learn caution. Scorched fingertips and burned off eyebrows weren’t uncommon back in the day I’m sure, and a few kids had more serious injuries, but I’m sure more kids get injured worse in car accidents every day.
I find it sad that kids these days grow up in a world with so little risk to teach them how tough life really can be. Perhaps that’s why so many kids spend time indoors blowing things up on video games these days. The fact that you can’t even legally use sparklers in this town anymore just further illustrates this “save everyone no matter what” mentality.
My uncle, a firefighter, was happy the law passed because he got to spend the 4th at home with his family instead of being put on high alert all weekend. That’s one upside I suppose.
SMARTGUY on July 03 at 4:16 p.m.
Gambling of course is still legal, because those in charge profit from it.Why don’t they lower the gambling age to 6 years old and take your kids to the casino instead.
selkirks on July 04 at 11:34 a.m.
IT’S A CONSPIRACY!!
Seriously, this was done for public safety. Anyone who suggests otherwise is clueless. Have you been in the street in Airway Heights on the 4th? It’s dangerous. I have no idea how police and fire were able to get through. No, this is a good restriction.
USAF_VET on July 04 at 4:11 p.m.
I’m a combat veteran, legally carry a concealed weapon, can drive a car at 70mph 3 feet away from another, but I can’t even play with sparklers or snakes? WTH?!
Here’s an idea: make people register, take a short 10 question test, and pay a $5 dollar fee to set off fireworks on their own property or designated public lands. If they miss 3 or more questions then no fireworks.
The city makes money and residents get to to have the 4th of July they remember growing up with. Everyone wins!
Teseract on July 04 at 9:59 p.m.
@selkirks - The only reason it was so crowded is because everyone from Spokane would run up there in desperation to have a little fun. If it was still allowed city wide in Spokane/Spokane County, Airway Heights wouldn’t have the crowding issues.