July 4 is nearly upon us and things will be different in the fireworks realm on Mercer Island this year.
Nearly two months ago, Eastside Fire & Rescue Chief Ben Lane and City Manager Jessi Bon signed an order prohibiting the discharge of consumer fireworks “due to extreme fire danger,” according to the city regarding the out-of-service Seattle Public Utilities main water supply pipeline to the Island.
On May 1, Bon declared a local state of emergency regarding the water issue, during which the Island is currently receiving water through a 16-inch backup line as the 24-inch mainline awaits repair.
The city presently sits in the voluntary water conservation stage.
Lane noted in the order that, “Discharge of consumer fireworks heightens the risk of multiple fire ignitions that could further diminish the city’s water supply to levels below what is necessary to support critical fire suppression operations.”
Consumer fireworks can still be sold legally on the Island this year from noon to 9 p.m. on June 28 and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 29 through July 4.
Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) Public Information Officer Lindsey Tusing said that residents may be confused if they witness a stand selling fireworks with a local usage ban in effect.
MIPD is prepared for a fireworks stand to soon be present on Mercer Island and wants to remind locals of the no-discharge situation. According to a TNT Fireworks representative and the company’s website, a retail stand will be open starting June 28 at 3023 78th Ave. SE.
When 2025 rolls around, the sale and discharge of consumer fireworks will be permanently banned on Mercer Island following a city council unanimous adoption at its May 7 meeting.
“Mercer Island was one of the last jurisdictions to not have a fireworks ban in King County, and so it was time. It’s the right thing to do. It’s what the residents want. I think it’s (the council adoption) reflective of the majority sentiment on the Island and the greater county area that we don’t need to have fireworks on the Island,” Tusing said.
Tusing said that MIPD will soon be releasing reminder messages to residents on social media and through word of mouth about the ban to supplement the information presently featured on the city’s Let’s Talk page. Public education on the matter will also include officers being prepared to answer questions if MIPD receives noise complaints for fireworks.
“The biggest goal here is prevention, because if we can reduce the number of fireworks being illegally used on the Island on the Fourth of July, it is beneficial to everyone. It benefits us because it conserves finite resources of our police officers who are not tied up on a noise complaint call when perhaps another actual life emergency call comes in,” Tusing said.
Water conservation is another paramount element to the situation and Tusing echoed Lane’s sentiment regarding a possible blaze breaking out from fireworks usage and having the fire department utilize fire suppression when the city is pulling back on water consumption.
If residents have a noise complaint from fireworks, they are asked to call the 24/7 non-emergency line at (425) 577-5656 to keep the 911 lines free for major emergencies.
Like on other major holidays, MIPD will be extra staffed on the Fourth and that includes a marine patrol unit cruising Lake Washington. Tusing said that with people outdoors celebrating the day, there’s the possibility of DUIs and opportunistic crimes with residents away from their homes.
Regarding residents possibly issuing fireworks noise complaints, Tusing said, “Of course, we’re going to respond to those things. But if we can prevent that long list of waiting calls that are holding because we’re dealing with other things that we could have prevented, then we want to do that.”
As previously reported, professional public fireworks displays will still be permitted if they meet city code requirements. The city has a professional fireworks show planned for its Summer Celebration 2024 on July 13 at Luther Burbank Park, and such shows have a significantly lower impact to public safety and water resources, Bon said during the May 7 meeting.
For more information, visit Let’s Talk: https://tinyurl.com/2kmfktxn
