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News & Information

6/29/24

New Signage to go up in Island County Parks this year- still no commitment to enforce! We need your help documenting violations!

A big shout out to Island County Parks Superintendent for taking the initiative to order and place permanent signs at the county parks that are most impacted by fireworks. This is a significant step towards promoting safety and preventing any damage caused by fireworks. However, despite this progress, lack of enforcement for existing Island County Code remains a huge concern. It is important to note that the current code forbids all fireworks at all county parks, including the July 4th war zones of Double Bluff, Robinson Beach, and Maxwelton. We urge everyone to comply with the regulations and respect the environment. 

We need your support to document the lack of enforcement of the existing Island County Code. Your photos or videos that clearly show the location and the fireworks would be most helpful in this regard. Photos of fireworks debris are also useful. However, we emphasize that safety should be your first priority, so please do not confront anyone who is breaking the law. Please send your photos and videos to Safeandhumanefireworks@gmail.com, and we will make use of the content in our advocacy for a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.

We also encourage you to call 911 to report violations if you feel people, animals, or property are endangered by fireworks. 911 calls are categorized and logged through dispatch, so even if there is no enforcement response, there will be a record for future reference. This is especially relevant should there be any kind of fire.

The non-emergency number for Island County if you are not comfortable dialing 911 is (360) 321-4400

Click here for Island County fireworks regulations, including the legally permitted times and days for fireworks.

Thanks very much for your help. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Safe and Humane Fireworks Team.

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6/28/24

CALL TO ACTION

Consumer Fireworks Pose a Clear and Present Danger of Wildfire on Whidbey & Camano Islands

As you are aware, Washington State, for the second year in a row, has declared a 'Drought Emergency'. Climate Change has resulted in hotter and drier summers on both Whidbey and Camano Islands and our risk of wildfire is steadily increasing. As of June 30th, a Type 1 Burn Ban is in effect for Island County. I am sure you have all heard the tag line "Only you can prevent forest fire". We have our own tag line, "Only the citizens of Whidbey and Camano Islands can prevent a wildfire".

Please send an email to each of the Island County Commissioners, Sheriff/Fire Marshall Felici and all four Island County fire district Chiefs - stating your support for adding 'fireworks' to the list of prohibited fire uses during a Type 1 Burn Ban. Making this one simple change to IC code, prohibiting fireworks during a Type 1 Burn Ban (current code only prohibits fireworks during a Type II Burn Ban), will greatly reduce the risk of wildfire from the discharge of private consumer fireworks.

Even though it is an election year, and our County Commissioners are less likely to engage in anything politically controversial, we need to demand they take ACTION NOW!

Melanie Bacon – district1@islandcountywa.gov
Jill Johnson – district2@islandcountywa.gov
Janet St. Clair – district3@islandcountywa.gov
Sheriff Felici – RickF@islandcountywa.gov
Chief Walsh – Nick.Walsh@swfe.org (South Whidbey Fire & EMS)
Chief Jerry Helm jhelm@cwfire.org (Central Whidbey Fire)
Chief Admin@nwfr.org (North Whidbey Fire)
Chief Levon Yengoyan lyengoyan@camanofire.com (Camano Fire)
In addition, you can testify in person, or virtually via Zoom, during the Public Comments portion of a BOCC meeting; the BOCC meets the first four Tuesdays of the month at 10:00 am. The BOCC website provides instructions and the link for attending/speaking via ZOOM.

In response to a citizen who advocated for the inclusion of fireworks in the Type 1 Burn Ban, Janet St. Clair wrote the following:

Sorry for my tardy reply. I have been trying to research if amending code on a Type 1 Burn Ban can be taken, given requirements for notice to the public. Furthermore, currently declaring a burn ban is under the authority of the Fire Marshall by code and not by the Board of Island County Commissioners. While I support your request, it is unclear if any action can be taken immediately and if so by whom. Because state code (RCW) has higher authority than county code, I don’t believe a fireworks ban can be included in a Type 1 ban without meeting all of the requirements in RCW 70.77. Chapter 70.77 RCW: STATE FIREWORKS LAW (wa.gov)

I welcome the opportunity to explore this conversation in a more timely way for 2025 when our mortar ban will go into effect. Fireworks code changes, by state law, do not go into effect until the following year. While not welcome information, I hope this is clarifying.

Sincerely,

Janet

This is under investigation by Safe and Humane, but at first blush, this seems like obfuscation. Counties have the right (clearly stated in the RCW that Janet quotes) to make more stringent laws than what the state has. While it is true that there is a one year waiting period, action could still be taken immediately by the county even if we have to wait a year for the new regulation to go into effect.

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June 17, 2024 Press Release

1/24/24

A Victory!

Thanks to support from Commissioners Bacon and St. Clair, the fireworks code was amended yesterday to ban mortars and to eliminate the use of all fireworks on July 5. Below are the changes that were adopted into code. Thank you to the many residents who spoke at the hearing and wrote to the Commissioners indicating their support. To watch the public hearing, go to 10:15:55 am in the video accessible by clicking this link. To clarify the definition of a mortar, Michael Jones, county administrator had a slide with the definition and a sample photo of what constitutes a mortar (copied below). The Commissioners expressed concern about wildfire as the basis for their decision. Enforcement of existing and new code, as well as the continued sale of mortars in Island County were discussed as challenges for the sheriff.

Due to a one year waiting period for any changes to fireworks code, we won't see these changes until January 23, 2025.

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Testimonials

Everett Herald Editorial- March 21, 2023

Monday, the latest report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that the world is now likely to miss its target of limiting global warming set for 2030; its scientists predict, climate disasters – heat waves, droughts, floods and more – will become too extreme for many regions to adapt and prepare for adequately.
“We have surpassed the point where action at any level can be dismissed as insignificant.”

Lisa Fladager- March 5, 2023

How Extreme Heat Scorched Pacific Northwest's Evergreen Trees. Very very important points here. I can't see how they [County Commissioners] would be able to defend themselves if they didn't take this into consideration and take proactive measures. By proactive measures I do mean ban fireworks island wide. After all, if there's a burn ban there absolutely ought to be a Firework ban.

Rhonda Paulson- Camano Island Preparedness Group and C.E.R.T Lead), February 2023

The safety of Camano residents, in the event of a wildfire, is in jeopardy. “We are, after all, a very long island with very narrow roads and only one way on and off. Given these circumstances, it would be impossible to evacuate all residents in a safe and timely manner, should someone's fireworks spark a wildfire. Likewise, with residents attempting to flee, it would be equally impossible for outside resources and support for our very limited fire district to get on the island. The consequences would be devastating, not just from the perspective of the destruction of personal property, but with regards to the loss of lives, as well

Marianne Edain- WEAN (Whidbey Environmental Action Network)

There are the obvious human issues of PTSD and jangled nerves, dogs under beds, and terrorized farm animals. But there is also the matter of climate change and the effect that is having on our vegetation. This year’s weather is a prime example. While the spring was cold and wet, the summer drought lasted well into October. By mid-November, in spite of “atmospheric rivers," it was possible to scuff in the soil and discover that 1” below the surface it was still bone dry. That dry soil has stressed (and continues to stress) our trees. We have reports of red cedars dying for no obvious reason. And Bigleaf maples are suffering as well. The upshot is that these trees are moisture stressed, which makes them all the more vulnerable to fire. 

And of course the operative part of “fireworks” is “fire.” We’re all aware of celebrations gone wrong and resulting in brushfires. July 4 is early in the dry season. The combination of these facts could prove disastrous. We all experienced the months-long fire in the Skykomish area, well west of the Cascade crest. Wildfire is no longer just an east-side problem.

The simple and painful fact is that Island County has become vulnerable to wildfire. For all the green we see, Island County is also very densely populated. Wildfire anywhere in the county would be devastating. A ban on recreational fireworks should be considered an ounce of prevention. 

We are aware that there are non-profit organizations which derive income from sale of fireworks. We hope those organizations are nimble enough to find alternative sources of revenue. That revenue is not sufficient to outweigh the potential loss of life and livelihood from wildfire.

Leslie Welch, December 9, 2022

I support the mission of Citizens for Safe and Sane Fireworks and call for a change to Island County Code that limits fireworks sale and use, in the unincorporated areas of Island County, to those formally permitted and sponsored by the towns, cities or County, and only on the 4th of July.

I have animals both domestic and wild on my acreage and my domestic animals must be sedated so they can be somewhat comfortable during the fireworks. Limiting the firework displays to one day per year and for a reasonable period of time ( not setting off fireworks after midnight for example ) would allow for those people interested to support permitted and sponsored displays.

I strongly urge the County Commissioners to take action to ban personal fireworks sale and use prior to May 1, 2023 so that the one year waiting period will conclude in time for the ban to be in place for the 2024 July 4th holiday.

Sunny Fitzgerald, December 6, 2022

The time has come for Island County to acknowledge that personal fireworks are taking too much of a toll on the environment, animals and vulnerable humans.  I recognize that many families have traditions and look forward to the event, but sadly it has become so overwhelming and the impact so traumatizing we will need to find other ways to celebrate the holiday.  I want Island County to follow the example of other Washington state counties to ban personal fireworks.

Susan Lindsey Cohen, December 5, 2022

Just visit Goss Lake where, for days around July 4^th, what used to be one private firework display has now turned into 5, 7 or more. Competing percussive bombs go off for 3 or 4 days disturbing, frightening and endangering humans, pets and wildlife (specifically protected eagle nests).The smoke created is unhealthful for me as an asthmatic. At such close range, it is unbearable for many humans and pets. So much so that my family with our pets, and other families, are forced to leave Whidbey Island for 3 or 4 days over July 4^th to escape the traumatizing effects of the “celebrations”. July 4^th can still be an enjoyable celebration for all. Let’s devise ways to celebrate as a community without all the percussive bombing, debris, ash, smoke, spent shells and other litter and detritus created by these excessive private fireworks and strewn about the entirety of Island County.

Linda Hauser, December 3, 2022

I have had Fibromyalgia for 36 years, and stress greatly exacerbates my pain.  When I have to endure 4 days of what sounds like bombs going off day and night, my stress and pain levels go through the roof.  When I see the animals that live with me running, hiding and shaking because of their fear of the explosions, it adds to my stress.  I see deer running back and forth in our yard, totally panicked, because of the horrible noise, it added to my stress.  There is nothing beautiful or enjoyable to me in what the people in my neighborhood choose to buy and explode for four days every year.  I live by Goss Lake, and enjoy its beauty and the marine life that live in and around it.  The chemically laden debris that ends up in the lake after fireworks are killing unknown marine life living therein and polluting the water for humans who swim in it as well.

Diane and Greg Stone, November 28, 2022

Most people we talk with dread the season of fireworks: the possible danger and fright to babies, children, veterans, sick people, domestic animals (including our old cat who was not normal for several weeks), and wild animals. I hear of birds, particularly eagles, abandoning nests and some chicks jumping in fright from their nests. For many of us, fireworks mean ongoing anxiety, disruption of routine life, and sleeplessness. Some people in our area use fireworks that almost certainly are illegal—unimaginable military-like booms that rattle windows. Yet how can we prove they’re illegal? The Sheriff’s Office is overburdened, and officers must hear the noise personally in order to issue a citation. 

Craig Cyr, Langley Council Member, November 23, 2022

I strongly support a fireworks ban in all of Island County. Langley implemented a fireworks ban in 2020 which came into effect in 2021. The ban on fireworks makes a huge difference in the quality of life in Langley. Despite predictions to the contrary, Langley is much quieter around the holidays with no disruptive concussive explosions. Our pets are happier, as are our citizens. And we are all safer. Now is the time for Island County Commissioners to ban fireworks island wide.

Billie and Richard Draves, November 23, 2022

We live on Goss Lake where fireworks displays have expanded over the last several years into practically a competition around the lake for the biggest and loudest displays.  Fireworks are going off for days prior to and after the Fourth of July.  We are rattled and our dog Carlos shakes in fear from the percussive explosions that seem to only increase in their intensity and randomness throughout the holiday.  Our last resort is to actually leave the island during the holiday. It seems to us that escaping our island home runs counter to the idea of celebrating a national holiday.  

A growing number of municipalities have enacted sensible limitations to fireworks displays that provide opportunity to enjoy fireworks in a much more sensible way, limiting risk and harm to our environment, our community services and service people, and to our companion animals.