By Charlie Bermant
Feb 28 2007
While Kitsap County will restrict when people can discharge fireworks, the county commissioners voted on Monday to allow vendors a few extra hours to sell their wares. Additionally, the commissioners voted to restrict fireworks discharge to a single day.
Beginning in 2008, fireworks vendors in unincorporated Kitsap County can stay open from noon to 10 p.m. from June 28 to July 4, but fireworks can only be discharged from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4.
“This decreases the nuisance level,� said Kitsap County Fire Marshal David Lynam. “As it stands now, people are setting off fireworks while their neighbors have to work the next day. It also reduces the time that emergency services will need to respond to fireworks-related calls.�
The new statute also forbids sale of fireworks during the New Year’s holiday.
As presented to the commissioners, the new law allowed the sale of fireworks until 6 p.m. on July 4. The testimony of several local fireworks merchants prompted them to extend this to 10 p.m.
“There are a lot of people in the military,� said Port Orchard fireworks merchant Dave Douglas. “Many of them wait until the last minute to purchase their fireworks. So shortening these hours limits the ability for them to show their patriotism.�
Fireworks merchant Karen Gower said shutting down stands at 6 p.m. on July 4 is like “closing a department store at noon on Christmas Eve.�
The rules do not affect fireworks stands within city limits or on Indian reservations. If the hours are shortened, customers will travel to those locations and merchants in unincorporated Kitsap County will lose business.
Also forbidden by the new ordinance is the use of permanent buildings to house temporary fireworks sales.
Lynam said a tent, temporary structure or trailer is acceptable, but the use of empty stores makes it harder to control a fire should it occur.
While Lynam said prohibiting New Year’s fireworks was a necessary safety measure, some of those testifying felt this limit should be expanded.
“Can anyone think of a safer time to have a fireworks show?� Douglas said. “It is a wet time, and it gets dark early enough so people can finish their celebrations prior to their neighbor’s bed times.
“I would also like to mention the increased numbers of Asian members in our community,� he said. “Should we not embrace their cultural heritage?�
Feb 28 2007
While Kitsap County will restrict when people can discharge fireworks, the county commissioners voted on Monday to allow vendors a few extra hours to sell their wares. Additionally, the commissioners voted to restrict fireworks discharge to a single day.
Beginning in 2008, fireworks vendors in unincorporated Kitsap County can stay open from noon to 10 p.m. from June 28 to July 4, but fireworks can only be discharged from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4.
“This decreases the nuisance level,� said Kitsap County Fire Marshal David Lynam. “As it stands now, people are setting off fireworks while their neighbors have to work the next day. It also reduces the time that emergency services will need to respond to fireworks-related calls.�
The new statute also forbids sale of fireworks during the New Year’s holiday.
As presented to the commissioners, the new law allowed the sale of fireworks until 6 p.m. on July 4. The testimony of several local fireworks merchants prompted them to extend this to 10 p.m.
“There are a lot of people in the military,� said Port Orchard fireworks merchant Dave Douglas. “Many of them wait until the last minute to purchase their fireworks. So shortening these hours limits the ability for them to show their patriotism.�
Fireworks merchant Karen Gower said shutting down stands at 6 p.m. on July 4 is like “closing a department store at noon on Christmas Eve.�
The rules do not affect fireworks stands within city limits or on Indian reservations. If the hours are shortened, customers will travel to those locations and merchants in unincorporated Kitsap County will lose business.
Also forbidden by the new ordinance is the use of permanent buildings to house temporary fireworks sales.
Lynam said a tent, temporary structure or trailer is acceptable, but the use of empty stores makes it harder to control a fire should it occur.
While Lynam said prohibiting New Year’s fireworks was a necessary safety measure, some of those testifying felt this limit should be expanded.
“Can anyone think of a safer time to have a fireworks show?� Douglas said. “It is a wet time, and it gets dark early enough so people can finish their celebrations prior to their neighbor’s bed times.
“I would also like to mention the increased numbers of Asian members in our community,� he said. “Should we not embrace their cultural heritage?�