Celebrate without fireworks

This Fourth of July was worse than a nightmare for many residents of Eastern Washington. Several fires were traceable to fireworks.

In Washington, as the law reads now, fireworks have special treatment in that not even an emergency order from the governor can ban or restrict their use. Other things can be banned in an emergency, but not fireworks. In a local area, if an ordinance is made limiting or banning private fireworks, it can’t go into effect until a year after it has passed. Most other ordinances can go into effect as early as 30 days after being enacted.

This year, with severe drought and record high temperatures, the governor and local areas where private fireworks are totally legal could only ask for voluntary restraint and that helped somewhat, which I greatly appreciated.

I can continue to hope for the time that those who cherish our independence will be able to celebrate it in ways that are more thoughtful of their neighbors, and which do not pose a threat to safety and property.

Thomas Durst

Medical Lake