VANCOUVER, Wash. — The city of Vancouver is weighing a ban on personal fireworks within city limits following a Fourth of July that saw a spike in property damages and emergency calls.
The Columbian newspaper reported that the Vancouver City Council appears to favor a ban though some wanted first to consider a citizens’ advisory vote.
The Vancouver Fire Department told the council on Monday that property loss from fireworks-related blazes peaked this year at more than $570,000. This year, emergency calls surged to an average of 900 a day around the holiday, a jump from previous years.
Under state law, changes to fireworks regulations require notice of 365 days. The council must have a new ordinance in place by July 3, 2016, for it to be effective the following year.
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