East Wenatchee City Council to Hear Public Comment on Possible Fireworks Ban

The East Wenatchee City Council is asking for public comment tonight on the sale and use of fireworks.

East Wenatchee is one of just a couple of cities in the local area to permit fireworks, allowing their sale on the 4th of July and their use on the 4th of July and New Years.

After taking public comment, the council is scheduled to vote on whether to have city staff prepare an ordinance for them to look at later this month that could ban fireworks.

The council held workshops back in September on a possible fireworks ban.

Both East Wenatchee Police Chief Rick Johnson and Fire Chief Brian Brett spoke at the earlier workshops.

Brett currently heads the Wenatchee and East Wenatchee fire departments, which are known as Chelan County Fire District 1 and Douglas County Fire District 2, respectively.

Brett spoke in favor of banning fireworks at the workshops, saying firefighters don't have the resources to handle the risk of fireworks during the summer wildfire season.

Police Chief Johnson said any ordinance banning fireworks would be difficult to enforce.

Statistics from last September showed East Wenatchee Police had received 190 firework related calls with only one citation since 2015, while Wenatchee Police received 501 calls and had 6 citations since 2015.

East Wenatchee Mayor Jerrilea Crawford signaled she'd be open to a fireworks ban at the September workshops. "Fire isn't the only issue we're exploring for fireworks," said Crawford. "There's potential for nuisance and pets that are disrupted or people with PTSD."

Twelfth District State Senator Brad Hawkins also weighed in after the workshops, saying he now supports a ban on fireworks in East Wenatchee. Hawkins said his main concern with fireworks is the risk of fires, especially given the predominance of wildfires in recent years in the region.

"During periods of summer heat, extended dry conditions, and high winds, it seems absurd to drive around town and see fireworks being sold that could easily start structure fires and wildfires," said Hawkins. "Simply put, the economic destruction of fires, potential loss of life, poor air quality, and millions of taxpayer dollars invested all make approving your fireworks ban a very reasonable decision. Enforcement is an obvious challenge, but the decision itself would send a strong message

Senator Hawkins lives in the East Wenatchee area, and said he would support allowing fireworks on New Year’s Eve as part of a community celebration, but favors a personal fireworks ban.

The motion that would be considered at a March 15 East Wenatchee City Council meeting would include the sale and use of consumer fireworks on July 4 and New Years.