Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Ordinances caution fireworks users to be careful
COLFAX — The Fourth of July is right around the corner, and officials caution locals and visitors to be careful when launching fireworks.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Whitman County may see some precipitation in scattered locations on the day.
“According to the CPC [Climate Prediction Center] our temperature outlook for the fourth of July is expected to be leaning to below normal and precipitation is above normal,” said NWS Meteorologist Joey Clevenger of Spokane.
The Colfax Fire Department is also prepping for a “normal” Fourth of July.
“There has been nothing unexpected this year. According to the National Weather Service’s predictive services, it still looks like a normal year. I expect no greater danger than last year,” said Colfax Fire Department Assistant Chief John Lautenslager.
Whitman County can expect some slight gusts on the day, according to Clevenger.
Lautenslager recommends that residents in the county wanting to shoot fireworks off to refer to their city ordinances, have all the necessary supplies to put out fireworks after lighting and use caution when lighting.
“We like to see people use Safe and Sane fireworks. In fact, the Rotary Club sells them, and their booth will be at Rosauers,” said Lautenslager. “Once the fireworks have been discharged, always have a fire extinguisher, a water source, a shovel and a bucket of water to submerge them immediately.”
According to state law, firework sales could start as soon as Friday, June 28.
It is legal to sell and purchase consumer fireworks within this state from noon to 11 p.m. on Friday, June 28, and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 29. Through Thursday, July 4 to Friday July 5, fireworks are permitted only from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Consumer fireworks may be used or discharged from noon to 11 p.m. on June 28, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily from June 29 to July 3, from 9 a.m. to midnight on July 4, and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 5.
City ordinances are in place for several communities and should be reviewed before purchasing and lighting fireworks.
Colfax prohibits the lighting and exploding of illegal fireworks purchased from the reservation or other parties. These fireworks include bottle rockets, missiles, firecrackers and rockets.
In addition, fireworks are not permitted within the city limits of Colfax except from noon on Friday, June 28, to noon on Friday, July 5. This prohibition does not apply to duly authorized public displays where the same are authorized under the state laws.
Pullman City Code 3.16.020 states that the discharge of fireworks by any person in all city parks and city-owned facilities and grounds is prohibited other than Display Fireworks authorized under a permit issued by the Fire Chief.
A violation of this section is an infraction. A person found to have committed an infraction will face a monetary penalty.
According to the Tekoa city code, launching fireworks on any day other than the Fourth of July is prohibited.
Those with a fireworks permit are permitted yearly from July 1 to July 4. This permit can only be issued to a vendor by the City Clerk following payment. It is also required for those lighting fireworks to conform to the State and Federal policy. Public displays are allowed when adequately supervised. An application for a display must be submitted to the City Clerk beforehand.
Palouse and LaCrosse only require those launching fireworks to follow state law.
Fireworks are allowed in Oakesdale from Wednesday, July 3, through Friday, July 5. Oakesdale City Hall also asks those launching fireworks to clean up messes and be courteous of other people and property in the area.
In St. John, fireworks are not allowed by individuals in the town limits.
Endicott permits fireworks only from 9 a.m. to midnight from Wednesday, July 3, to Thursday, July 4. Also, launching fireworks within 150 feet of fuel storage is illegal.
Colton allows for legal fireworks to be discharged only from 9 a.m. to midnight on Thursday, July 4.
Lawful Fireworks include sparklers, cylindrical fountains, cone fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, mines/shells, combination items, smoke devices, helicopter aerial spinners, and Roman candles.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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