It's been another year in which fireworks have caused major damage in Clark County, WA. Recently, the Clark County Fire Marshall reinstated a burn ban on July 1, 2023. The usual burn ban isn't scheduled until July 15, but this year conditions were so hot and dry that the earlier ban was put into place.

Despite this, the Clark County Council did NOT pronounce a ban on the sale or use of fireworks in Clark County. The City of Vancouver hasn't allowed fireworks to be lit by non-professionals in a couple of years. And, the professional show that used to happen at Fort Vancouver did not happen this year either.

Concerned citizens within Clark County have attempted for years to instate a ban on fireworks within the County, but have been rebuffed by the Council consistently. One year, there was an attempt to have it put the question to the voters, but we were unable to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. 

Each year, property damage happens, homes are burned, people receive injuries and countless animals and PTSD sufferers (Including the veterans that we all care so much about) are forced to leave the area, or make a plan to get through the week as best as they can. I say "week" because it is never just on the 4th of July. Fireworks are lit at all times of the day, throughout the days before and after the actual holiday.

A large number of locations - cities, states, towns - have opted instead for laser light shows that do not cause the deafening noise of M80 shells, and do not pollute the air which can harm all persons and animals from pets to wildlife. And, most importantly, they don't threaten the homes, properties, and forests in the surrounding area. We could also mention the costs of all of the damage that is caused annually. If money talks, then fireworks-caused fires should speak loudly to the Commissioners. Our beautiful Columbia Gorge is still healing from the massive forest fire caused five years ago by one errant 15-year-old boy who carelessly tossed a firework on the trail. That boy is tasked with paying $36 million in restitution and you can be sure it will never be paid in full. All of us pay for that incident and all of the others in our tax dollars.

In this age of chronic drought and hot, dry, year-round fire risk, please help me to get our County Council to consider the health and safety of less damaging, less risky ways to celebrate the Independence of our United States of America. Let's put an immediate end to the fear that thousands experience in our county each year.

Let's declare our Freedom to celebrate the Fourth of July without fear for our homes, our health, and our pets. Please help me get enough signatures to put this on the next ballot in Clark County, WA, for a vote of the residents.

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