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Letter: End madness of fireworks

By Andy Schrag, BATTLE GROUND
Published: September 12, 2017, 6:00am

Until now, the debate over personal fireworks use has centered around comparatively minor issues: a charred garage, a hand injury, a prized azalea that was torched. No more. The Columbia River Gorge fires have changed the landscape of that conversation, and, unfortunately, the Gorge itself. Anyone challenging that argument is not paying attention.

What will be the total cost of these fires? Not just in fighting them, but in property destroyed, businesses disrupted, the lives of people and pets torn apart, lost commerce with the railroad shut down, river traffic slowed and Interstate 84 closed.

And for what? So a few “patriots” can have their jollies once or twice a year? It’s time for Oregon and Washington to come together and ban the sale and use of all personal fireworks. It’s long past time.

I know that some local organizations claim firework sales are important fundraisers, but the large percentage of the firework sales are by the big operators who give nothing back to the community. There are any number of avenues for local civic groups to pursue for their fundraising besides contributing to this ongoing menace. Have a car wash. Have an auction. Have an imagination.

Please, lawmakers, move forward with legislation to end this absolute madness.

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