Creative, flexible solutions exist

My enthusiasm for public fireworks displays plummeted after missing a late display and having a poor view. Better options are going out of state or to areas that allow fireworks.

Because of bans in cities, the fire danger in unincorporated Snohomish County is disproportionate. Cities that ban fireworks should revisit their policies and either allow non-aerial displays under 12-feet high as Oregon does, ban loud fireworks for the safety of animals, or designate certain areas for fireworks that have a decent building-free, fuel-free radius.

Mill Creek and Lynnwood do not encourage celebration on the Fourth of July. There is no parade, no activities and no fireworks. If displays were allowed but limited to a few suitable areas and people brought their legal fireworks, there would be more than enough fireworks to have great displays.

The displays in unincorporated Snohomish County were as good as the public displays, and more exciting, although not in a good way. Mortars and other aerials are fired off too close to homes, and caused a home to burn to the ground a couple years ago. If citizens had to apply for a $30 neighborhood license to fire off aerials, which included a safety test, and had to specify (with permission from neighbors and landowners) an area to fire the legal aerials, police may have an easier time targeting those who are not being safe. Those who don’t want to go to the big public displays could go to a planned neighborhood display. Money from the license could pay for the safety tests, administration and inspectors.

This year the weather cooperated to provide a safer Fourth. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, jurisdictions need to be able to be flexible and enact temporary bans on unsafe fireworks for the conditions.

Jean DeWitt
Mill Creek

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