2013 Spokane Fireworks Ban
Incident #: Date of Incident: 07/01/2013 Issuing Officer: Lisa Jones, Fire Marshal
Narrative: Directions to Spokane Fire Department Field House • Exit freeway at Freya Thor exit • Go north across freeway, THOR becomes S FREYA ST, continue across Sprague Ave., and Broadway, over the bridge that crosses the RR tracks • Stay straight to go onto N FREYA WAY. 0.34 miles • Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto N GREENE ST. 0.06 miles • Turn RIGHT onto E MISSION AVE. 0.45 miles • Turn LEFT onto N REBECCA ST. • Turn right at Fire Station 8 (first driveway) • The Field House is now in front of you. (Parking to your left or immediately in front of Field House.)
Hi there!
It’s time to talk to the Community about the 21st year of the Fireworks Ban in Spokane and the impact fireworks use has on us all. We have last year’s press conference on YouTube, and it’s been viewed several times, so I take that as a good sign! I appreciate your representation in years past helping to spread the word.
The press conference is brief and is a great opportunity to share the different perspectives with the community.
Here’s a link to last year’s event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHBoR_YJfG8
Who: You or your organization’s representative and anyone else you can think of who is affected
What: Fireworks Ban Press conference
Where: SFD Training Center, east of SCC, Field house – same as last year
When: Tuesday, July 2, 2013, 10:30 am
I am happy to shorten my part of the spiel to have you or your representative/s speak! Please let me know if that can happen. Thank you!
Lisa Jones, Fire Marshal
Spokane Fire Department
(509)625-7040 office
(509)435-7050 mobile
Partner in Safety
Spokane Fireworks Ban
Fireworks are dangerous! Most unsuspecting people don’t realize that even sparklers are dangerous causing the majority of burns and injuries to children, because they burn at approximately 2000 degrees Fahrenheit1 and they are often considered safe for children and incorrectly downplayed as a hazard. Preventable fires and painful burn injuries result every year from consumer use of fireworks. Public safety officials urge residents to celebrate safely and legally this Independence Day. This is the 21st year of the fireworks ban in the unincorporated areas of Spokane County, the Cities of Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Liberty Lake and Millwood. Spokane Fire officials thank community members who obey the fireworks ban.
Many people don’t realize that the following items are considered illegal explosive devices and are illegal anywhere in the State of Washington: Firecrackers, bottle rockets, missiles, M-80's or larger, cherry bombs, any improvised device such as tennis ball and sparkler bombs. Felony charges can be brought against people found guilty of possessing or discharging illegal explosives. “Safe” use of fireworks is misleading, as fireworks are inherently dangerous causing painful preventable injuries, deaths and fires.
Although July 4th is still marred by the sight and sound of illegal consumer fireworks in and around Spokane, the holiday period is dramatically safer in our community since the ordinance. In the 10 years prior to the ban, there was an average of 104 fireworks-caused fires just in the Spokane city limits during the 9-day period of June 28 through July 6. In the past 20 years, that average has held at an average of 5 fire incidents.
On an operational level for Spokane Fire Department, that means we no longer have to “stack” 9-1-1 calls because every crew is out fighting fireworks-caused fires and there is no one to quickly respond to a medical emergency created such as a heart attack, stroke, or auto-collision. For emergency room personnel in Spokane-area hospitals, it means an 83% reduction in the number of injuries caused by exploding fireworks. (Last year, none of the six persons treated locally were injured in the Cities of Spokane or Spokane Valley.) For homeowners, the dramatic reduction in fireworks-caused fires has encouraged families to vacation away from their home because they no longer feel the need to stay in town watering down the roof in fear of stray bottle-rockets or worrying about terrified pets.
Unfortunately, there are still people throughout the community who believe they have the right to celebrate their independence by defying the ordinance and disrupting the peace and safety of the neighborhood. Violators not only annoy neighbors and terrify pets, they also create a very disturbing environment for returning veterans who suffer from the effects of PTSD and unexpected noise or explosions. Report fireworks violations to Crime Check at 509.456.2233. The penalty fine for Spokane City begins at $513 per incident. The Fire Department encourages the public to enjoy outdoor fireworks displays put on by the professionals.
Notes: 1. “CPSC Holds Fireworks Safety Press Conference on Mall in Washington,” Press Release, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), June 28, 2000.
Cause:
N/A
Damage:
N/A
End Of Release For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
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