Posted on 07/04/2015 10:08:21 AM PDT by PROCON
TRI-CITIES, WA. -- People are concerned about fireworks this Fourth of July. And not just locally, all over the Northwest. Governor Jay Inslee along with the Department of Natural Resources issued a burn ban for Washington but they wanted to do even more.
No matter where you are in the Northwest, fireworks will be especially dangerous this year. Both Washington Governor Jay inslee and Oregon Governor Kate Brown have issued warnings.
But regardless, fireworks stands have been open and selling in certain areas all week. So now they're urging extreme caution when using fireworks in cities and counties that legally allow them.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcrightnow.com ...
The entire state of Washington is bone dry. There have already been fires on the sides of I-5 around the Seattle area due to someone flicking a cig out the window into the dry grass. We have not had any significant rainfall in the Seattle area in months (that's right, no rain in Seattle). So, personal fireworks are actually a very strong fire danger at this point in time. It isn't about not celebrating the 4th, it is about concern over the fire danger at this moment.
I believe there will still be professional fireworks going off tonight; just, not so many personal ones -- and there is an actual legitimate reason for that.
That's the issue, I don't begrudge people their enjoyment, hell fireworks are part of America, but the last few years as you noticed there is no common sense, courtesy or respect for others and the shear amount of dangerous activity is ridiculous. Anaheim voted to permit the safe and sane fireworks again, not that it mattered since the enforcement of the ban was an absolute joke.
Horse manure.
We had hot, dry weather in Seattle in the 60's, 70's and so on when I was growing up here; not many fires due to fireworks.
So if the solution is OK to ban personal fireworks, then wouldn't banning guns be a legitimate way of preventing "gun violence"?
Of course not.
Unfortunately we can't currently ban stupid people, but it seems we want to surrender more of our rights in order for bad things not to happen.
Safety before freedom, just like most women (of both genders) seem to always prefer
There are plenty of reasons to criticize the political leadership in WA, but this is NOT one of them.
I live here and it’s dangerously dry. There are currently 6 active fires and inevitably there will be more. I live in the woods on acreage and it’s simply not smart (or courteous or responsible) for my neighbors to light fireworks knowing the fire danger. Someone just lost their house last night close to here because neighbors were shooting fireworks. Our friends son just got called up again to fight another fire north of here. There are simply NO MORE resources available to fight new fires because they have been fighting the existing ones non-stop. The crews are exhausted.
Conservatism is based in reason not anarchy. Freedom is a cornerstone of our country, but none of us have an unassailable right to endanger the lives and property of others doing something stupid and trivial. There are professional shows to watch and they can save the fireworks until it is not so dry. If my neighbors would only burn down their house/property that is their right, but these wildfires are unpredictable and dangerous. The wildfire in Wenatchee was horrific and the costs was in the tens of millions for taxpayers not to mention lost jobs/homes. I know people who have lost homes/pets to fires started by the thoughtlessness of others. It also poses severe danger to firefighters out here.
Plenty to criticize in the Peoples Republic, but banning and discouraging fireworks is common sense that will save lives and property.
Good comment. Over here in the Tri-Cities it has been over 100F for weeks from about noon on. Breaking records every day. Highest temp I’ve seen was 113. Dry as a bone is barely an adequate description. Sprinkler water is severely restricted also. Wish the ban was in place. There will still be the huge fireworks show over the river.
I live just south of Puyallup. It is EXTREMELY dry here. I just got done watering my DECK because it’s already cracking like it does in August! Hubby and I told the kids no fireworks on our property. I think our neighbor is going to be lighting some, and I told them if they want to buy their own, they can go over there to set them off. I don’t want the government banning them, but I AM staying home tonight so I can keep an eye on our house/neighborhood. Oh, and the fires earlier this week north of Seattle/south of Marysville along I-5 were deliberately set, it wasn’t from cigarettes, but from two asshats in a Hyundai. They recovered a flair at one of the sights with a fingerprint on it. Hope they catch them. I did see that Whidbey Island had like 6 fires yesterday, most likely from fireworks.
Incidentally, the Richland Federal Building recorded a High of 119F. Ideological knee-jerk comments about the attempted ban are totally idiotic.
Years ago, I would say “Just a little jump into Idaho”, but then I asked for ones not made in China. I have stopped buying fireworks, but it is by that reason.
Years ago, I would say “Just a little jump into Idaho”, but then I asked for ones not made in China. I have stopped buying fireworks, but it is by that reason.
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The Chinese heritage includes fireworks so that is oen area I would give them and import,
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