Local

Fireworks for sale, banned in many cities

SEATTLE — Firework sales started Tuesday at noon in Western Washington.

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The stand opened for business with even fewer places to set off its products. Fireworks bans are quickly reducing the legal places to light them.

More cities are banning fireworks but KIRO7 found the number of firework-related fires in King County is still going up.

KIRO 7 went through data from the Washington State fire marshal.

In 2013 in King County, there were 45 fires started by fireworks. In 2014, it jumped to 82. Last year, there were 115 fires caused by fireworks, according to the Washington State fire marshal.

Eastside Fire and Rescue covers 190 square miles on the Eastside including the cities of Issaquah and Sammamish, where fireworks are banned.

Deputy Chief Richard Burke thinks the number of firework-related fires was so high last year because of the record dry weather.

KIRO7 asked Deputy Chief Burke if firework bans work.

"We see a reduction in firework occurrence issues. We still roll on them every year on the Fourth. Each year they get a little bit less,” said Burke.

He said while the statistics might not show the impact of the fireworks ban with regard to fires, he is seeing fewer injuries. In King County last year, 58 people were injured by fireworks -- that's down from 81 the year before, according to the Washington State fire marshal.

This year the City of Sammamish is working to educate residents about the fireworks ban. Sammamish banned fireworks in 2005, but Klahanie was annexed by Sammamish and this is the first Fourth of July where fireworks will be banned.

"I think slowly we're starting to see the use of fireworks go down. But people are still attached to their 'patriotic duty.' We're having a little bit of a tough time getting people to comply," said Tim Larson with the City of Sammamish.

The fine for possessing fireworks in Sammamish is $500; for setting them off, it's $1,000. Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama asked the city to do more to enforce the ban.

"If we're going to have an ordinance, it has to be enforced," said Valderrama. "We have asked that we start to enforce it more strictly. We have brought on extra police officers for the Fourth of July, but we don't see the tickets being written."

Most cities on the Eastside have banned fireworks. They are still legal in unincorporated King County, but when you can set them off is restricted.

For a full list of where fireworks are banned, check out this link.