SPOKANE, Wash. — The Fourth of July is quickly approaching and many areas across the Inland Northwest have banned personal use of fireworks due to the extreme heat and drought conditions.
This is the 29th year of all individual consumer fireworks being illegal in Spokane. In the 10 years prior to the ordinance, firefighters responded to an average of 104 fireworks-caused fires between June 28 and July 6, McIntyre said. Since the ban has been in place, the average number of fireworks-caused fires has dropped to less than five. That is a 95% decrease. To read more about the dangers and consequences of amateur fireworks shows, click here.
The City of Spokane postponed its July 4 fireworks shows at Dwight Merkel, Ferris High School, Avista Stadium and Plante's Ferry due to an increased risk of fire danger. The fireworks will be rescheduled for a later date and details will be shared when known, the city wrote on its website.
Here are the places that have current fireworks bans.
Washington:
- Spokane County - Fireworks are Illegal
- Medical Lake (temporary)
- Cheney
- Tyler
- Airway Heights (discouraging use)
- Deer Park
- Fairfield
- Liberty Lake
- Spokane Valley
- Rockford
- Lincoln County
- Sprague
- Odessa
- Outside of Odessa city limits Fire District 3 commissioners recommend no fireworks, if a fire is started from fireworks the responsible will be held financially responsible.
- Reardan
- Edwall
- Davenport
- Egypt
- 7-Bays
- Deer Meadows
- Harrington
- Creston
- Wilbur
- Lincoln
- Almira
- Grand Coulee
- Whitman County
- County Fire Districts 12 and 14
- Chewelah
Idaho
- Bonner County
- Sandpoint
- Priest River
- Ponderay
- Kootenai
- Hope
- East Hope
- Oldtown
- Dover
- Blanchard
- Clark Fork
- Nez Perce County
- Lewiston
- Moscow
- Latah County
- Moscow
If you are still wanting to watch fireworks and participate in Fourth of July festivities, some places are having firework shows done by professionals for people to enjoy.
In Coeur d'Alene, the city will be hosting an independence day celebration with their annual fireworks show beginning at 9:45 PM and will last roughly 20 minutes.
Additionally, people can watch fireworks at the Coeur d’Alene Casino. On their website, they say their parking lot can easily accommodate large crowds.