Clallam County approves fireworks ordinance

Restrictions consider fire danger level, set to begin next year

PORT ANGELES — After more than two years of debate, Clallam County lawmakers have passed a fireworks ordinance based on fire danger in unincorporated areas.

The three commissioners voted Tuesday to adopt regulations based on state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) industrial fire precaution levels.

The ordinance is more restrictive east of the Elwha River and bans consumer fireworks throughout the county when the fire danger is moderate or high.

“This was a compromise,” Commissioner Bill Peach said.

The ordinance will take effect in one year, giving Fourth of July revelers one more summer to abide by state regulations that allow the sale and discharge of consumer fireworks from June 28 to July 5.

Beginning in 2022, fireworks will be allowed east of the Elwha River on the Fourth of July only.

Fireworks still will be allowed west of the Elwha River from June 28 to July 5 as long as the DNR fire danger remains below 3.

All of unincorporated Clallam County would be under a fireworks ban if the fire danger reaches level 3 (moderate) or 4 (high), according to the ordinance.

The cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend have each banned fireworks. The Clallam County ordinance does not affect the four tribes within the county.

The city of Forks follows state law for fireworks. Officials there have not discussed a fireworks ban, Forks City Attorney/Planner Rod Fleck said Tuesday.

The Clallam County law is a compromise between those who strongly feel fireworks are a part of the Fourth of July tradition and others who feel fireworks pose too much fire risk.

Commissioners have received voluminous public input on the issue since an initial public hearing in June 2018.

“We took a tremendous amount of public testimony and heard loud and clear from approximately half of the folks who commented that they would really like to see an all-out ban or restrictions on fireworks,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said Tuesday.

“We heard from many others the exact opposite, that they would prefer that we do nothing.”

Commissioner Randy Johnson said the ordinance would “probably not make everyone happy” but resulted in a “fair compromise.”

The board postponed previous hearings on the fireworks proposal that were planned for March 24, May 12 and June 9 because of COVID-19.

“Although the COVID crisis continues, the county has now established many reliable ways to ensure public participation in meetings,” County Administrator Rich Sill said in a virtual meeting Tuesday.

“Also, the recent wildfires throughout the western Untied States have highlighted the importance of moving forward with this ordinance.”

One person testified at Tuesday’s hearing, a man who identified himself only as Randy and asked why the Elwha River was used as a boundary between the levels of restrictions.

“The Elwha River was chosen as a compromise,” Ozias said.

“Given all the conversation around how to balance those competing interests and looking at different interests within the county geographically, we were looking for a pretty easy-to-understand dividing line, something that didn’t snake back and forth and that was the natural dividing line that made the most sense, which we hope will be helpful both for our residents and for enforcement, eventually.”

Those who violate the county’s fireworks ordinance will be subject to an infraction and a fine of up to $250, the ordinance states.

“It’s a well thought-through document and has had quite a bit of input from the community,” Peach said.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the Sequim Botanical Garden at the Water Reuse Demonstration Park at Carrie Blake Park on Wednesday in Sequim. Thornton, a volunteer gardener, was taking part in a work party to maintain the beauty of the garden. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Rose display

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the… Continue reading

Electric rates see big increase

Jefferson proposal approved for 4-year hike

Clallam Transit to receive $4M in grants

Agency to use funds on Strait Shot and other routes

Port Angeles council OKs sidewalk near park

Applicants to receive grant funding for one-third of total cost

Peninsula College to continue without budget

Board expects plan in September

An Olympic marmot stands as the star of the show at Hurricane Ridge on Monday. These tourists from Alaska stopped and photographed the creature from a distance as he slowly ate his meal of wildflowers. The marmot is a rodent in the squirrel family and is unique to Washington state. The hibernating mammal’s burrow is only about 50 feet up the paved path away from the parking lot. The group had just photographed deer at the Ridge. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Olympic marmot

An Olympic marmot stands as the star of the show at Hurricane… Continue reading

Eighth-graders Saydey Cronin and Madelyn Bower stand by a gazebo they and 58 other students helped to build through their Sequim Middle School Core Plus Instruction industrial arts class. The friends were two of a handful of girls to participate in the building classes. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Middle school students build gazebo for academy

Businesses support project with supplies, flooring and tools

Frank Nicholson and David Martel.
Veterans in Warrior Bike program to pass through Peninsula towns

Community asked to welcome, provide lodging this summer

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County Sheriff Brian King, right, accompanied by Lt. Jim Thompson of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Police on a leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run on the Olympic Discovery Trail at Port Angeles City Pier. Tuesday’s segment of the run, conducted mostly by area law enforcement agencies, was organized to support Special Olympics Washington and was to culminate with a community celebration at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Carrying the torch

Special Olympian Deni Isett, center, holds a ceremonial torch with Clallam County… Continue reading

Hopefuls for Olympic Medical Center board debate

Talk focuses on funds, partnership

An encapsulated engineered coupler used to repair a January leak. The leak occurred along a similar welded joint near to the current leak. (City of Port Townsend)
Port Townsend considers emergency repair for pipeline

Temporary fix needs longer-term solution, officials say

Traffic to be stopped for new bridge girders

Work crews for the state Department of Transportation will unload… Continue reading