Moses Lake mulls fireworks ban

Measure would not impact 2006 celebrations

MOSES LAKE — Lighting off those mortars or roman candles could become a thing of the past following this summer's July 4 celebrations, if the city council passes a proposal banning all fireworks within the city limits.

The potential for injuries and property damage caused by the high-flying, multi-colored rockets has led the city council to consider a ban on their sale and discharge beginning in 2007. The discussion was one of countless issues brought up during the city's annual retreat at the Cave B Inn in Quincy over the weekend.

The Moses Lake Fire Department is at optimum staffing on the July 4 holiday, but Chief Tom Taylor said the fireworks can be dangerous to both people and their property when celebrations go awry. While the fireworks are considered "safe and sane," Taylor wrote to the council in a memo on fireworks that many of the incidents the city responds to are due to unsafe handling by children or intoxicated adults.

"They're dangerous, they're just plain dangerous," Taylor told council members. "Safe and sane does not mean safe and sane."

Mayor Ron Covey echoed sentiment by other members in saying such a ban would not be a popular one. But Covey suggested the council take action before someone is seriously injured or killed by fireworks.

"I don't want to react to a situation," Covey said. "I want to take the necessary steps to prevent a situation from occurring."

Moses Lake currently allows fireworks sales from June 28 to July 6 and has limited firing them off solely to Independence Day itself. State law requires a year phasing-in period after adoption of any ban, meaning residents will still be allowed to set off their safe and sane fireworks on July 4 this year.

Councilman Bill Ecret had previously proposed a designated area for people to light off fireworks, but admitted Saturday that he couldn't think of a safe designated area within the city limits, and agreed with a proposal for a complete ban.

Councilman Dick Deane told fellow council members he was in a quandary about the situation, and questioned whether or not the move would just send the problem to city borders.

Many councilmen suggested the ban could lead to a more elaborate fireworks display at McCosh Park, which would not be impacted by any proposal.

Moses Lake is not the first city to consider a ban on fireworks in eastern Washington. Cities like Pasco, Kennewick, Othello and Spokane all ban fireworks. Richland, Wenatchee and Ephrata have fireworks restrictions in place similar to those currently held in Moses Lake.

Moses Lake firefighters responded to 13 grass fires and 12 fire investigations in the week surrounding July 4, 2005. In 2004, Taylor said firefighters responded simultaneously to two house fires caused by legal fireworks which he said stretched department personnel to the limit.

Police Chief Dean Mitchell said it has become difficult for his officers to respond to calls of illegal fireworks too.

Council members suggested the city get the message out on what their reasoning is behind the ban, and Taylor said the message his department would try to get across is safety. Because they don't always know what to expect when they get called to a fire, Taylor said the fire department must send two people and a truck to respond.

Taylor said the proposal would eliminate some of the strain on his firefighters who must also respond to medical calls. Taylor said he didn't want the department to be spread thin with fire calls on July 4 while someone needs help for a heart attack or stroke.

Taylor suggested if the council does move forward with any fireworks ban, that ban should coincide with a ban in sales within the city limits. Eleven stands were approved for fireworks sales within the city limits last year. But some council members questioned the money raised by those stands versus the amount of time and money spent responding to fires and fire investigations on the July 4 holiday.

"If we took all the profits those people made, it wouldn't cover all the costs we have patrolling the thing," Councilman Richard Pearce said, suggesting it would be cheaper to give a donation.

In order to prevent fireworks sales in 2007, the city would need to pass a final ordinance by June 28, 2006. A draft fireworks ban ordinance is scheduled to come before the council in the next two months.