Written by We received an email today from a citizen suggesting council consider a less-restrictive ban on fireworks. I’ve attached the email below.
I personally enjoy SAFE fireworks on the Fourth of July, and I’m always interested in hearing from citizens; but unless things have changed significantly since November 7, 2006, council would probably be reluctant to change the ban on fireworks.
This is because this issue went to the voters during the 2006 general election, and voters overwhelmingly chose to maintain the fireworks ban. Renton voters favored a ban at a rate of 62.57 percent to 37.43 percent.
Voters chose to maintain a ban that had been put in place by council by unanimous vote (including me) in 2004. Council had originally put the ban in place after the state had allowed the definition of “Safe and Sane” to become so inclusive that flaming rockets could now be labeled “Safe and Sane”, followed by a Fourth of July in which two Renton building burned to the ground from fireworks: a brand-new single family home and a publicly owned building on park land (across the Cedar River from Carco Theater).
Voters affirmed the council fireworks ban in 2006. Here is the link to the 2006 ballot proposition, and here is the link to the election results.
Below you will find the recent email council received on this topic.
To: Council
Subject: Fireworks ban
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:39:29 AM
I exchanged several emails with Lisa Garvich, and she directed me here to ask my questions about the fireworks ban. I have looked at the meeting minutes and wanted to know the best way to propose that the current ban be amended.
I believe that the same improvements to the safety and security can be achieved with a less restrictive ban that would allow citizens their freedoms to celebrate and allow for additional revenue inside the city.
I have analyzed the numbers associated with fireworks injuries and fires, and compared this to other legal activities. I have also evaluated the causes of injuries related to types of fireworks, and believe if the ban were to be limited to specific types it would still achieve its desired purpose.
I know it is too late to affect this independence celebration, but I hope to get a change for the next.
Thank you,
A.B.
No need for fireworks
The ban, if anything, needs to be beefed-up. Judging by the massive explosions that rocked the Highlands last night, there was little enforcement going on. Seems like the police need to be given some better tools, more officers, and the penalties a lot stiffer. Fireworks are explosives, can’t be made “safe and sane”, and explosives shouldn’t be allowed in our neighborhoods.
Re: No need for fireworks
That, exactly. People have been over at Hazen until all hours the past few nights setting the stupid things off. Is that something we should call 911 about?
In any event, I wish people who want to make a lot of noise and blow their fingers off would go find some unincorporated King County land and leave their neighbors that voted for the ban to sleep in peace.
Re: No need for fireworks
I hope they go deeper into unincorporated King County — I live right near the border, and the booms add just another annoyance on top of the good ol’ boys driving around on their unmuffled dirt bikes. We get the best of both worlds – rednecks and yuppies.
Re: No need for fireworks
Be thankful you live in this ‘free’ country. There’s other places in the world were they hear ‘loud noises’ all through the night. It’s called ‘shelling’. Be thankful for the reason others are celebrating that evening. Sounds like if you had to live anywhere remotely ‘dangerous’ you wouldn’t last long.
Re: No need for fireworks
A great example of why we need stiffer penalties; stupid parents that let their kids throw bottle rockets into the air with their hands. Sadly a true story. My thanks to Engine 121’s crew for putting an end to it tonight. I know they didn’t see it so the warning they likely gave the parents for the illegal fireworks was probably the best they could do, but I would have preferred to see some parents, who were likely drunk as well (and no that’s not speculation but based on the fact that I can see into their backyard from several rooms in my house and watched them drinking all day), going to jail tonight.
Sadly, the rest of the neighborhood is still ringing with very large explosions.
I wish there were a way to make it weather dependent. Last year, I recall fearing for my home and yard because of the risk of brush fires being started by fireworks, despite the fact that they are not allowed here. (We actually did have a brush fire started by a neighbor, but not on the 4th.) This year, on the other hand, I didn’t really care. It was pouring down rain, the fire danger seemed minimal. The noise is a little unnerving, but as long as it doesn’t go past midnight, I say put in earplugs for one night a year, no big deal. As it was, I enjoyed viewing them at a friends house in King county, although I don’t care to light (or buy) them myself.
When you have children who are woken up by the noise and have to get them back down to sleep, let’s see if you think the same way.
That’s why I emphasized the one night a year. If we, as a nation, want to agree that noise is okay between 10:00 pm and midnight one time a year, to celebrate, that’s a night I would plan on not getting as much sleep. Don’t be bitter at your neighbors for having fun.
It was not only children that were woken due to fireworks. This year the 4 th of July was on Thursday. I had to be up at 5:00 am on Friday to get ready for work. There were people in my neighborhood (the Highlands behind the old Safeway) still lighting fireworks off after midnight. I was ready to call the police.
The law only deters those who are responsible any way. It just ruins it for everyone. How many buildings get burned down on the other 364 days?
Renton
Renton has gotten far too big and lost its identity. It keeps trying to annex more area instead of taking care of the citizens it has. The downtown is a ghost town and now they want Fairwood and of all places SKYWAY! How much police service is Skyway going to need? Forget about annexing and take care of what we have.
No, it minimizes the fireworks available and used by the stupid neighbors and especially their irresponsible kids. I have had burning rockets land in my driveway, 100 firecrackers scattered all over my yard and onto my wood shake roof, watched neighbor kids launch rockets at a low angle over the roofs of the homes down the hill below them, and listened to the particles from the rockets land on home roofs all around me. You cannot stop it, but you can minimize it and keep our neighborhood safer (it is less active now than before the ban).