With recent heat wave, here’s how Whatcom County is changing rules on fireworks
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu is urging people not to use consumer fireworks during this year’s Fourth of July celebrations. His statement, issued Wednesday, June 30, is based on current dry conditions and wildfire risk throughout the region.
For those who do choose to light fireworks, county officials recommend keeping the festivities to a single day and shortening the duration of use.
“We recognize that the national Fourth of July holiday is a celebration of freedom and liberty in the United States, and that displays of fireworks are an expression of that,” Sidhu said in a statement. “However, there are many public commercial displays planned, and it would be extremely prudent for all of us to take advantage of those as our means of enjoyment of fireworks this year rather than endangering each other, our neighbors and friends and property.”
In Tuesday night’s County Council meeting, June 29, Sidhu suggested a countywide ban on fireworks this year, but faced pushback from some council members.
Council Member Todd Donovan said a ban is appropriate considering the “catastrophic” damage a single spark could cause to the county’s agriculture and residential areas. Council Member Ben Elenbaas said that although he is concerned about those impacts as well, he does not support a government ban.
“Bans come with a lot of negative connotations for everybody,” Elenbaas said. “I think we will get further by educating and empowering people to make the right choice.”
Although the region has cooled off somewhat since last weekend’s record-breaking highs, continued above-average temperatures and dry weather means elevated fire danger throughout portions of Western Washington, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. Grasses, brush and shrubs in particular currently have very low moisture content.
In the wake of the heat wave, the county is experiencing “unprecedented” dryness, said Mitch Nolze, assistant chief of the South Whatcom Fire Authority. Just because vegetation is green doesn’t mean it’s not dry, he said — it only takes a few hours in the sun for grasses to become the ideal fuel for fire.
Many local fire departments rely on volunteers, either partially or fully, and Nolze is concerned what that could mean this Fourth of July, when many volunteers take off. If fireworks do cause a fire during these dry conditions, there might not be enough on-duty firefighters to put it out quickly.
“People should consider their volunteer-based fire departments may not have the same staffing they do on other days,” Nolze said.
Sidhu said he consulted with the Whatcom County Fire Marshal and Sheriff’s Office before considering a ban. He also called the chair of the Lummi Nation to notify the tribe of his plans, explaining that they have a vested interest in the potential restrictions since they sell fireworks.
This story was originally published June 30, 2021 at 11:53 AM.
