Pierce County Urges Residents To Forego The Fireworks This Year

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Firefighters, first responders and local leaders all across Pierce County are urging residents not to set off fireworks this 4th of July holiday.

Fire works are legal in many communities and in unincorporated Pierce County — after a last-ditch attempt to ban them failed Pierce County Council by a single vote — but the recent heat wave and drought conditions have firefighters and other experts warning everyone to skip out on sparklers and other consumer fireworks this holiday.

The county itself has even issued an advisory, collecting and sharing testimony from several local fire chiefs explaining that fireworks just aren't safe right now.

Last year, firefighters and first responders across Washington responded to nearly 600 firework-related incidents. Of those 600 incidents, 360 were wildfires caused by fireworks, which combined caused $1,300,000 in damages. That's a lot, but experts warn this year is likely to be even more dangerous following last weekend's record-breaking heat wave.

Instead, officials are urging residents to consider leaving the shows to the professionals. Though a few long-running firework shows have had to be canceled due to the pandemic, there are a few remaining shows planned for this weekend in Puyallup, Gig Harbor and at JBLM.

If you absolutely must set off your own fireworks, make sure they're legal in Washington. Firecrackers, missiles, bottle rockets, M-80's and M-100s are illegal in the Evergreen State, though revelers can still buy mortars, roman candles, spinners, and sparklers. They also have to be set off in and around the holiday.

In unincorporated Pierce County, fire works are only legal:

• July 1-3, between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.
• July 4, between 10 a.m. and midnight.
• July 5, between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Many other Pierce County communities have set their own timeframes.

In Lakewood, fireworks are only allowed between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. July 3-5. Next year, they will only be allowed on the fourth.

Gig Harbor allows for fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 1-3 and until midnight on the 4th, but like Lakewood will begin restricting fireworks to just the 4th next year.

In Bonney Lake, fireworks can only be discharged from 9 a.m. to midnight on the 4th. Neighboring Sumner restricts them further, from noon until midnight on the 4th.

Puyallup allows for fireworks between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., again only on July 4th.

Finally, if you see someone improperly handling fireworks or setting them off outside the proscribed hours, firefighters are asking that you do not call 911 unless there is an active emergency. Firework complaints should be filed through the non-emergency line, (253) 287-4455.