Pateros residents support controlled fireworks in survey results

PATEROS – The Pateros City Council held a public hearing July 19 regarding the presence and use of fireworks within the city limits following Apple Pie Jamboree the previous weekend and to discuss the results from a fireworks survey distributed to Pateros residents a year ago.
Last July 2020 Mayor Carlene Anders sent a questionnaire to city residents requesting their opinions concerning the allowance of fireworks within the city limits. Comments from the survey’s 58 respondents helped the council critique its fireworks policy and clarify where residents agree and disagree with fireworks in the city.
Anders said the survey responses “made it fairly clear that being allowed to have fireworks in the park is definitely a preference of the group of respondents.”
Of the 10 questions in the survey the highest percentage of agreement (94.64%) was for support of fireworks celebrations by trained and certified pyro technicians for Apple Pie Jamboree, New Years, and high school graduation. While 77.78 percent of respondents agreed that they are concerned about fire danger during the 4th of July celebrations more than 85 percent do not favor banning all fireworks celebrations in the city.
Nearly 83 percent of respondents say they are comfortable with current municipal code that restricts common fireworks to the Memorial Park solely, not allowing any fireworks in residential areas or any other city properties. The current Pateros Municipal Code (PMC) on fireworks was passed in 1993, updated in 1998, and revisited but unaltered following the 2014 wildfires.
PMC Chapter 8.08 regarding fireworks reads:
8.08.010 Statement of Policy: The city council of the city believes that it should take all reasonable steps to protect persons and property by limiting the sale and use of fireworks and designating an area to allow persons to shoot fireworks. A designated area for the use of fireworks will offer safety for the activity and allow the activity to be policed for illegal fireworks.
8.08.020 Designation of area for use or discharge of common fireworks: Any use or discharge of common fireworks of a projectile type shall only be made toward and over Lake Pateros from the city’s Memorial Park. As used in this chapter, “common fireworks” shall be as defined in RCW 70.77.136 as amended and “projectile type” common fireworks shall be any common fireworks capable of flight or projectively through explosion or combustion.
8.08.030 Violation – Penalty: Any person who shall violate the provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a civil infraction and may be assessed a civil penalty on an amount of up to two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each offense.
Among comments added to the survey by respondents two recommended signage explaining the basic rules posted around the city prior to July 4th. Another recommended increased enforcement patrolling during July 4th. A few encouraged the removal or banning of juniper bushes within the city limits.
City resident Nathan Moller was one homeowner with a close-up and personal encounter the combustible mix of fireworks and juniper bushes. Moller related his family’s experience last year when an errant rocket set fire to the juniper border between Warren Avenue and Highway 97 in front of his residence. Moller said that after putting their children to bed he and his wife were about to turn it when she took one final look out the window for any signs if fire.
“There was a huge fire right outside our door and it happened like that!” Moller said snapping his fingers.
Moller said he suggested that his neighbor water down a large tree in his front yard to prevent the flames from igniting it.
“If that tree had gone up both houses would have been done very quickly,” Moller said
Moller said that while he personally liked watching fireworks, he also recommended that the city ban the sale of fireworks in Pateros during the summer.
“I love the idea of having a fireworks show,” said Moller, “but if you sell fireworks that’s going to attract people here to set off fireworks.”
Moller also recommended that official fireworks displays be moved to New Year’s when the chances of them causing fire are much reduced.
The incident Moller described prompted the city to remove the juniper border shortly following the fire.