I, alongside many of my neighbors in Battle Ground, WA, find ourselves living in fear and anxiety every year as the Fourth of July approaches. The reason? Fireworks. Fireworks that cause our peaceful homes to shudder from the noise, that frighten our pets into illness or flight, and that threaten to ignite our properties in a blaze. My personal ordeal was when a fire sparked by these explosives almost reduced my home to ashes. Similar stories, others worse, are common.

The aftermath is no less distressing. Remnants of these fireworks are carelessly discarded by users and end up clogging our storm drains, adding an environmental concern to an already fraught situation. This is not simply a plea from a disgruntled few — this concern is shared among the majority of my neighbors who are tired of living in fear and risk.

In 2018 alone, fireworks caused an estimated 19,500 fires (NFPA), demonstrating the clear danger they present. Furthermore, festivities should not come at the expense of mental peace and safety, or at the risk of endangering the well-being of vulnerable residents and animals.

We ask the local government of Battle Ground, WA to implement a full ban on Fourth of July fireworks. Let us safeguard the well-being of our people, pets, and environment. Please help secure a peaceful and safe Fourth of July for Battle Ground, WA by signing this petition.