Fuse lit on Fireworks Ban referendum
posted 08/08/2008
Referendum 2008-2, the effort to put the fireworks ban ordinance up for a vote has cleared the county's required legal review, and enters into the signature-gathering phase. Its sponsor, Fireworks Unrestricted, has until December 4, 2008 to gather 1,522 signatures of registered voters in order to place the measure on the November 2009 general election ballot.
"The ink is barely dry. Milene (San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley) approved the form on Wednesday, and they have just come back fresh from the printer", said referendum sponsor Don Burkhart. "I'm encouraged. We stood in Eastsound this morning and filled up our first sheet in under ten minutes."
Burkhart said that Fireworks Unrestricted is planning a big push for signatures during the upcoming County fair on August 13th – 16th. They have rented a booth at the fair, and will be a constant presence during those four days.
The effort is attracting attention outside of San Juan County. Burkhart is scheduled to appear on radio station KZOK's Bob Rivers Show. "I'm going to the big city on Monday August 11 at 9 a.m. to share our message of rich tradition at risk. Sack the Council! Save our Sparklers! (S.O.S.)"
County bans fireworks beginning in 2009
posted 06/03/2008
This year (2008) will be the last year, islanders will be able to use "Safe and Sane" fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. San Juan County Commissioners voted unanimously this morning (June 3, 2008) to ban personal fireworks beginning in 2009. Currently they are legal on July 4. A public hearing was held and an ordinance passed which only allows licensed displays such as those put on at Lopez, Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor and in Eastsound. A copy of the draft ORDINANCE is on the COUNTY WEB SITE.
The ban includes sparklers. Cap guns and party poppers are not included in the ban. Greg Hertel spoke against the ban saying the only loss of life has been at the licensed displays and fires have been caused by the Lopez display. "I speak on behalf of gunpowder and small boys," he said.
Chris Hodgkins said he had a right to enjoy a quiet Fourth of July and told the councilmembers how noisy his neighborhood becomes from people shooting off fireworks. He said people could go to the licensed displays.
The council briefly considered extending the public hearing to another time to allow for more input from the public but decided it wouldn't change the outcome.
Council will consider
"consumer" fireworks ban
PRESS RELEASE:
Local fire, emergency response and law enforcement officials today urged the San Juan County Council to enact a total ban on all fireworks in San Juan County, except those handled by professionals in permitted public pyrotechnic displays.
San Juan Island Fire Department Chief Steve Marler noted that the County has not had many recent "horror stories" about injuries and damage done by fireworks in recent years, but urged the Council not to wait for a disaster before acting.
Speakers pointed to a study that recorded more than 1000 fires and 1300 injuries in 2003 alone from legal, consumer fireworks that were classified as "safe and sane" in accordance with state law.
Council Member Rich Peterson said that he would like to get a "whole lot of public input on this." He said he knows many people would be supportive, but "I also know people who’ll say, ‘It’ll be a cold day in hell when they take sparklers away from my kids.’"
Fire Marshal Robert Low noted that sparklers burn at 2000 degrees. "Some of the worst burns I’ve seen on young children were caused by sparklers," he said.
Council members Gene Knapp and Kevin Ranker both expressed general support, but want to ensure citizen input and asked for more information to justify the case for a total ban on consumer fireworks.
"It is a very emotional issue," Chief Marler said, "For some people it raises issues of patriotism and tradition."
The Council agreed to ask County Prosecutor Randall Gaylord to bring a proposed ordinance to them for discussion. The proposed fireworks ban would not affect this year’s Fourth of July celebration
Currently, it is not legal to sell fireworks in San Juan County and it is illegal to use them except on the Fourth of July. According to a list maintained by the Washington State Patrol 58 cities and counties in the state now totally ban the use of consumer fireworks.
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