Some Lewis County residents have asked local government officials to ban fireworks this year due to the hot and dry weather turning the county and rest of the state into a tinderbox of sorts.
While Lewis County commissioners have the authority to ban fireworks, the process would take too long to be effective this Fourth of July.
As per state code, any fireworks ordinances adopted by counties or cities that are more restrictive than state law have effective dates no sooner than one year after adoption.
With no ban in place this Independence Day, Lee Napier, director of community development and acting county fire marshal as directed by the commissioners, is asking residents in unincorporated Lewis County not to use personal fireworks this year.
Rural Chehalis’ Lewis County Fire District 6 Chief Tim Kinder said some people have asked him what safety precautions they should take when shooting off their own displays this year.
“My guidance to them is: ‘Don’t do it,’ but if you’re going to do it, you’re going to take your chances,” Kinder said.
The county is encouraging citizens to take in approved fireworks displays. Vader will begin its show at about 10 p.m.; the Randle Firefighters’ Association will start its display at White Pass Junior Senior High at 10 p.m.; The Mossyrock Fire Department is putting on a fireworks show behind the Mossyrock Junior/Senior High School at 10 p.m.; Pe Ell will be shooting off fireworks at about 10:15 p.m.; and fireworks will be shot off at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds at about 10:30 p.m.
Some fire chiefs are also ramping up staffing for the weekend. During the day their top concerns are heat-related medical complications and injuries. In the evening, it’s fires from fireworks.
Kinder said his district doesn’t typically increase staff for the Fourth of July, but this year the low humidity and high temperatures has led him to believe that more people will be out celebrating and will have an increased chance of hurting themselves.
Chief Kevin Anderson with Fire District 15 in Winlock said he plans to keep the district’s brush unit staff through the weekend and have volunteers come in to staffed other units including the water tinder and ambulance.
While Anderson said Winlock typically increases its staff from two responders to five or six for Fourth of July, this year he is more concerned about the potential for fires with the dry and hot weather.
Aerial fireworks are the primary concern when it comes to people shooting off at-home displays.
“Those are the hard ones because they can be somewhat unpredictable,” Anderson said.
Many members of Fire District 3 in Mossyrock will be at the bike parade and races at noon, and the district is putting on a fireworks show. Chief Doug Fosburg said most of the district’s volunteers will be available for any calls throughout the holiday.
“(Volunteers) kind of go to their own barbecues and what not, but we’re kind of on a heightened state of awareness this year, so we’re going to keep everybody close,” Fosburg said.
The county’s urging for people not to light off personal fireworks this year follows Gov. Jay Inslee’s similar recent request of Washingtonians.
The governor, along with state Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark, also banned all outdoor fires on Department of Natural Resources state lands. Fires at all state parks and state ocean beaches are also prohibited. The ban includes all wood and charcoal fires in designated fire rings; however, gas and propane cooking stoves can still be used.
The ban doesn’t cover federal, county or city parks, but Lewis County commissioners are considering further restricting its burn ban by prohibiting fires in county parks.
Effective on Friday, open campfires throughout the Gifford Pinchot National Forest will only be allowed in metal fire rings at approved campgrounds and picnic areas.
“Campfire restrictions are put into place when the risk for potential wildfires increases due to higher temperatures, lower humidity levels and dry vegetation,” Deb Roy, fire management staff officer for the Gifford Pinchot and Mount Hood National Forests is quoted in a press release.
A list of approved campfire sites in the Gifford Pinchot is available at fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3844001.pdf
