Monday was a Good Day at Council

The Bellingham City Council met on Monday, 2/11/13. And some good things took place fireworks-wise:

• During the mid-day Committee of the Whole Meeting, Stan Snapp moved, under Old or New Business, that the fireworks issue be sent for discussion to Public Safety Committee which he chairs.  After the required second, the motion was passed 6-0 with Councilman Bornemann absent.
• During the Mayor's Report portion of the evening Council Meeting, Mayor Linville and Fire Chief Roger Christensen announced an "interpretation" of our existing fireworks ordinance (i.e., BMC 10.24.130) intended to prohibit the sale at fireworks stands in our City of so-called "cakes" (A cake is a dense-packed collection of mine/shell tubes that are fused together). It’s “a small step forward” but a good indication that City officials are serious about acting to get the fireworks situation under control. All other consumer fireworks identified as such by RCW 70-77-136 are still allowed to be sold in the City, including such aerials and/or blasters as Roman Candles, Mines/Shells and Reloadable Mortars.
  Later . . . 

More Interesting Facts

While reviewing State-wide fireworks information for my previous posting to this blog, I decided to also compare the City's fireworks ordinance (i.e., BMC 10.24.130) with Washington State fireworks laws (i.e., RCW 70.77 and WAC 212-17).  This review revealed the following items which I need to share with you:

1. Since my last visit the the Fire Marshal's compilation of fireworks bans and restrictions in Washington, the numbers of both have increased noticeably: Bans in Cities have increased from 51 to 58. Restrictions in Cities have increased from 55 to 91.  And restrictions in Counties have increased from 9 to 13.  Bellingham public officials need to recognize the significance of these increases and make ours the 59th city in Washington to put a total ban of fireworks in place.  
2. Since I began, nearly four years ago, to voice my concerns about fireworks in Bellingham, many residents of our City -  including a couple of Members of City Council and a former Mayor - have stated that they thought fireworks were already banned in our City.  WRONG!  As allowed by RCW 70.77.250(4), Bellingham revised its' fireworks ordinance by putting restrictions, but not a ban, in place in 2005.  The current fireworks ordinance (i.e., BMC 10.24.130) includes restrictions that are above and beyond the minimum requirements of RCW 70.77 and WAC 212-77.  Consumer fireworks are not currently prohibited.
3. So, the obvious question is, what restrictions are currently in effect in our City?  One fact is somewhat surprising: no types of fireworks other than those already prohibited by State or Federal statutes were added to the current fireworks ordinance.  And the actual restrictions that were added have proven to be unenforceable and hence ineffective.  Both are in force each year during the June/July time frame.  RCW 70.77.395 and WAC 212-17-060 stipulate the 8-days when consumer fireworks may be legally sold and used in our State, from the 28th of June through the 5th of July.  The current Bellingham fireworks ordinance reduces consumer fireworks sales by just one day, allowing no sales on the 5th of July, and consumer fireworks use to just one day, the 4th of July.  A total ban in our City would prohibit the sale and use of consumer fireworks year round except so-called "toy cap, trick and novelties", as provided for in RCW 70-77-405 and WAC 212-17-30, and those already listed at BMC 10.24.130.D.

Later . . .

County and City Bans

After Mayor Linville inquired last week as to whether Whatcom County officials had been contacted regarding our seeking a fireworks ban in Bellingham, I decided to do a bit of review of State-wide fireworks information, and below is compiled what I have come up with.

BTW, the data shown below is a summary of information available here on our website (Click on "Page 1 of Existing Consumer Fireworks Bans and Restrictions") at and from the State Fire Marshall at http://www.wsp.wa.gov/fire/docs/fireworks/ordinances.pdf.

1. Fifty-eight (58) cities in Washington have total bans.
2. Of the thirty-seven (37) counties in Washington, four (4) counties have total bans.
3. These counties are Franklin, Spokane, Yakima and Okanogan.
4. Within Franklin County, two (2) cities - Connell and Pasco - have total bans.
5. Within Spokane County, five (5) cities - Cheney, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane and Spokane Valley - have total bans.
6. Within Yakima County, seven (7) cities - Naches, Selah, Sunnyside, Tieton, Toppenish, Union Gap and Yakima - have total bans.
7. Within Okanogan County, one (1) city - Oroville - has a total ban. 

BOTTOM LINE:  Of the fifty-eight (58) cities in our State with total bans, just fifteen (15) are located within counties with total bans.  That means that forty-three (43) cities in our State with total bans are not located within counties with total bans.  It's time to make Bellingham the 44th!  Later . . .