If you think you know the laws surrounding fireworks in Clark County, you might need to think again. Many changes take effect this year.
So, the first step to ensuring a safe and enjoyable holiday for all is to get the word out about those changes (tinyurl.com/y8cv2rjs). Most notably, the sale and use of personal pyrotechnics has been banned by the city of Vancouver — meaning those who live within the city limits. No longer will fireworks stands appear on street corners throughout the city; no longer will residents be allowed to celebrate the Fourth of July with a bang and a flash.
Camas and Washougal also have new limitations upon fireworks, but not bans, and residents should familiarize themselves with those restrictions. In unincorporated Clark County, the regulations differ north of Northeast 219th Street and south of that demarcation line, a change that went into effect last year.
Regardless of the regulations, it probably would be naive to think that everybody will adhere to the law, and the issue brings up important questions about the balance between individual freedom and the collective good. Those questions strike at the very meaning of the Fourth of July, which celebrates the formation of the United States as a self-governing entity devoted to being a beacon of liberty.