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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rules for the Fourth of July haven’t changed: fireworks banned in Spokane city limits, most of the county

If it has a fuse, don’t light it within Spokane city limits.

That goes for Spokane Valley, Cheney, Liberty Lake, Millwood and unincorporated areas of Spokane County, too.

Fireworks have been banned within Spokane city limits since 1993, and the fine for using them is $536 per violation. Fines for violating the ban in the rest of Spokane County can be up to $1,000 per incident.

The only exceptions to the ban are on private property in Airway Heights on the Fourth of July until midnight, in Medical Lake on the Fourth until 11 p.m. and in Deer Park today through the Fourth until 10 p.m.

Last year in Washington, 209 injuries and 92 fires related to the use of fireworks were reported, according to Washington State Patrol data. None of the fires and only three of the injuries occurred in Spokane County.

“I think people are getting used to the fact that they’re not supposed to be doing that, and hopefully they’re taking caution,” said Cpl. Mark Gregory, spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

The Spokane Fire Department estimates more than 2,200 fires have been prevented by the ban.

The state Department of Natural Resources says the region’s fire danger level is “high.” That means campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds, and fireworks are banned on all DNR Protected Lands.

“There has been some recent moisture in the air, so we don’t have extreme dryness,” Spokane Fire Department spokesperson Michele Anderson said.

Whitman, Lincoln and Stevens Counties allow the use of fireworks through the Fourth, and some areas in those counties allow them through Friday.

The Spokane, Colville and Coeur d’Alene Indian reservations all have areas where the use of fireworks is allowed.

In Kootenai County, including Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, only the use of fireworks marked “Safe and Sane” on private property is allowed. Essentially, any firework that explodes, moves across the ground or shoots projectiles is illegal.

Some examples of “Safe and Sane” fireworks are smoke balls, fountains, sparklers, snakes, ground spinners and noisemakers. However, snakes and fountains that contain mercury bichloride are not allowed, along with sparklers made of iron wires longer than 10 inches or thicker than one-fourth of an inch.

There are also several public fireworks displays in the area on the Fourth in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Liberty Lake and Airway Heights.

Violations of the consumer fireworks ban in Spokane County can be reported to Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.