Commissioners continue discussion on changing fireworks ordinance

EPHRATA — Grant County Commissioners will continue to discuss the county’s fireworks ordinance, and the possibility of making changes, after county officials meet with representatives of fire districts and municipal fire departments.

The discussion at Tuesday’s commissioners meeting and future meetings follows a recommendation from Grant County Fire Marshal Nathan Poplawski on July 1 to ban fireworks over the July 4 weekend. Commissioners discussed it at a lengthy public hearing, but in the end decided against a ban.

Commissioner Danny Stone requested a follow-up discussion during the meeting Tuesday with Poplawski and Grant County Development Services Director Damian Hooper. Stone said he wanted to look at alternatives that might help avoid a last-minute recommendation in the future.

A county ordinance allows the fire marshal to recommend a ban in the case of what the ordinance calls extreme fire danger. Poplawski said the forecast for strong winds last weekend prompted him to recommend banning fireworks July 1.

“The wind was really the tipping point,” he said.

Commissioners declined to vote on the proposal after about an hour of public testimony July 1. Commissioner Cindy Carter said the situation was complicated since fireworks sales had already started.

Poplawski said he didn’t know how many fires started over the July 4 weekend, but it seemed to be about average.

“People demonstrated pretty good responsibility,” Poplawski said.

Stone said at Tuesday’s meeting he wanted to make it less likely commissioners would need to make a decision at the last minute. Carter said she thought the only effective solution would be a statewide ban, since if one county imposed a ban people could, and would, go to another county.

Commissioner Rob Jones asked about designating zones for fireworks, such as the Moses Lake Mud Flats and Sand Dunes, south of Moses Lake. Hooper said some cities already do that, citing Soap Lake and its designated zone on the lake’s east beach.

The problem, Hooper said, is that a lot of suitable locations for fireworks zones are inside cities.

Carter said she wanted to talk to the chiefs and commissioners of the fire districts, but Poplawski said there’s no consensus among them, either.

Stone said the challenge in his district, in the northern section of the county, is different than the irrigated areas further south.

Grant County is among the areas afflicted by a drought, and high temperatures in the week prior to July 4 set all-time records. But, Carter said, it’s always hot and dry by the time July 4 rolls around, and it’s important to come up with a more precise standard for banning fireworks. Jones said the county needed a consistent standard.

But Poplawski said some people won’t listen no matter what the county ordinance says, and in the end it might just be better to evaluate each year as it comes.

“No easy answers, no easy solution,’ Poplawkski said.