Not yet, but soon it will be time to grab the earplugs, sedate the dog and hose down the shake shingles. Clark County’s annual fireworks warfare is closer than many peace-(and-quiet)-loving folks would like.
Fireworks sales begin at noon on Monday June 28, but the local ordinance amateurs need to know that the window for legal use of fireworks varies greatly among the county’s seven jurisdictions. Among the widest of these windows are those in Battle Ground and Camas (in each city, noon to 11 p.m. June 28; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 5). But we hasten to point out that the smallest fireworks-use window in the county is next-door to Camas, in Washougal (one day only, 9 a.m. to midnight July 4).
This year brings two changes in the hodgepodge of fireworks laws around the county, and both are good ideas:
The city of Vancouver has shortened its fireworks-use window to four days (9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 1 through July 3; 9 a.m. to midnight July 4). Last year, it was seven days. So, if you buy fireworks outside the city limits and bring them into the city, make sure you know and observe the new law. Vancouver is posting four electronic signs with reminder messages at major entrances to the city, and 50,000 fliers have been sent to fireworks stands for distribution to customers.
Another change this year: Fireworks use will be illegal on July 5 in unincorporated Clark County and the towns of Amboy and Yacolt. Vancouver made this change last year, and it makes perfect sense to us. We’ve always compared setting off fireworks on July 5 to opening Christmas presents on Dec. 26.
Both of these changes should help lead our community toward responsible and reasonable use of fireworks. And that has been The Columbian’s editorial stance on fireworks all along. Fireworks should be regulated in sensible manners, and in recent years several beneficial adjustments have been made in various jurisdictions. For example, in 1998, Clark County commissioners made fireworks illegal on New Year’s Eve. The same change took hold a few years later in Vancouver. These days, there is hardly a peep of protest. And banning fireworks on July 5 was another sensible move.
What makes this issue difficult for many local residents to understand is the wide assortment of rules in the cities and county, plus the facts that about 48 percent of the local population lives in unincorporated areas and about 38 percent of county residents live in Vancouver. Another complicating component is the fact that many residents don’t even know if they live in or out of a city or unincorporated area.
Although fireworks are banned in every city in the state that’s larger than Vancouver, a ban here won’t work. Much of the city is adjacent to unincorporated areas, and compliance and enforcement would be even more difficult than already is the case.
It would be smart and practical, though, if all jurisdictions would agree on uniform fireworks laws. Unfortunately, as much sense as that makes, getting all the cities and the county to agree on something as controversial and explosive as fireworks seems beyond the capacity of local politicians. For now, the public will just have to be satisfied with incremental improvements in the various regulations.
We’re not sure Washougal’s one-day fireworks season is the best plan, but praise is due Vancouver’s city councilors for reducing the window to just four days.
