Please sign this petition and express your support in banning the sale, discharge and possession of consumer fireworks in Chelan County, Washington. This petition will limit our fireworks in Chelan County to professionally staged, permit-only fireworks displays.
This petition supports a full ban of consumer fireworks, year round. Although fire is unlikely on New Years Eve, if fireworks are permitted December 31st, it will make it very difficult for law enforcement to enforce possession over the 4th of July.
The Sleepy Hollow Fire reminds us of the devastating effect of a small fire getting out of control in Chelan County. It defies logic that consumer fireworks are permitted in the dead heat of summer in the tinder dry conditions of Chelan County.
Recent Examples of Fireworks-Related Fires
- The Skyline Fire (July 2014): 8 homes on Level 3 evacuation and 60 homes on Level 1. The Dept. of Natural Resources believes this fire was caused by fireworks.
- Rock Island Fire (July 2014): A teenager playing with a sparkler ignited a 3 acre brush fire in Rock Island, coming within 100 yards of 4 homes before the wind changed direction.
- 15 fireworks fires were reported in Chelan County over the 4th of July 2014.
Fireworks are expensive to taxpayers. The 2007 Easy Street Fire was caused by 2 men lighting legal fireworks. 5,209 acres burned, and a structure was lost. The cost to fight that fire 8 years ago was $1.4 million. (Source: Washington State Patrol)
Chelan County is behind the times. Yakima County, Spokane County, Okanogan County and 67 other cities and counties across the state of Washington have full fireworks bans in place. Spokane County has had their ban for 24 years. Spokane fire marshall Lisa Jones states, “Fireworks related fires have gone from an annual average of 104 fires per year down to an annual average of 5 fireworks fires per year. These numbers speak for themselves.”
Homeowners are in harm's way. Firefighters are in harm's way. Let’s not wait until something catostrophic happens from fireworks before we enact this ban. Let’s not wait until a homeowner or firefighter loses their life.
Let’s limit our fireworks in Chelan County to professionally staged, permit only fireworks displays.
Please sign this petition and join us in making Chelan County a safer community year round.
