Clark County councilors discuss ban on fireworks

As local fire officials begin preparing for the Fourth of July fireworks season, county councilors are again discussing the merits of restricting fireworks use in unincorporated Clark County.

During a Wednesday meeting, officials shared data about the strain the holiday takes on emergency services. They also say they’re bracing for what could be a busy year, with April’s low rainfall and the Fourth of July falling on a Friday.

If the council decides to adopt a policy restricting fireworks, state law dictates it wouldn’t go into effect for a year, meaning any change would not affect this year’s holiday.

The county’s 911 dispatch center, the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency, created a fireworks hotline in 2021 aimed at driving calls away from dispatchers dedicated to handling active emergencies. Last year, the hotline received 1,013 calls, down from 1,492 calls in 2023, which was the highest volume since the hotline launched. Hotline staffers referred 98 of the 2024 calls to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Last year was the first time in many years that the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office didn’t investigate any major structure fires on the Fourth of July, and there was no significant property damage, county Fire Marshal Donna Goddard said.

“I consider that a little lucky,” Goddard said. “I hope we continue that trend this year, although I echo those same concerns that July Fourth is on a Friday.”

The Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office does not enforce illegal fireworks use because of a lack of staffing, Goddard said.

Vancouver Fire Marshal Heidi Scarpelli addressed her agency’s strategy for fireworks enforcement in the city, where fireworks are banned completely. She said she emphasizes educating people about the ban and the boundaries of the ban before the holiday. Then during the holiday, fire marshal staff partner with Vancouver police to issue citations and confiscate fireworks, she said.

Last year, Vancouver staffers issued 23 $500 citations and confiscated 24 fireworks packages. Scarpelli’s office investigated two structure fires in 2023, but last year it only saw damage to vegetation, she said.

While Goddard said her presentation was to inform councilors of responses and she declined to make a policy recommendation, Scarpelli voiced a recommendation from the Vancouver Fire Department.

“We would recommend a total ban for the unincorporated parts of Clark County,” Scarpelli said.

The Vancouver fire marshal said many people don’t know which jurisdiction they live in and having so many competing rules around the county — including other cities whose rules differ from those of Vancouver or the county — creates confusion.

“We really try to educate, but if the entire county, including all the cities, have a ban, it would reduce risk for our community,” she said.

Councilor Glen Yung said he doesn’t think a total ban in the county is appropriate, but he wanted more information about how to curb irresponsible use of fireworks.

The councilors said Wednesday they wanted time to read through the reports before recommending any policy changes, and they agreed to revisit the issue during a future meeting.