In “County fireworks ban not in the works,” Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, states that she does not want a ban on fireworks (All Politics is Local, The Columbian, April 15). I guess Pike has never witnessed a neighbor’s house burn down from errant fireworks set off by people who have no regard for others’ property or safety.
I reside in a mobile park in Clark County and have witnessed many large aerial shots going off within a block of my home and showers of burning material hitting the very dry ground. It’s but for the grace of God that we have not had a major fire here. If that happens, approximately 50 families would be displaced, many with nowhere to go or the finances to afford current housing costs. That is, if they were lucky enough to escape with their lives.
As for our heritage, Fort Vancouver puts on a very good show, as do many other communities in our county. Let’s enjoy them. In our park, we live in fear every Fourth of July, and the days leading up to it, of losing our homes to an inferno. We should let those who are experts with fireworks put on the shows.
A ban on fireworks in Clark County is the safe and sane thing to do.
