Staff Report
Residents won’t be allowed to light the fuse on Mercer Island Fourth of July fireworks celebrations after all.
After carefully reviewing fire-risk metrics from state and regional authorities, Interim Fire Chief Jeff Clark today issued a temporary order banning the discharge of fireworks within city limits. The Mercer Island Fire Department monitored the fire-risk situation based on record-breaking temperatures and low relative humidity this month along with vegetation moisture and combustibility potential.
City Manager Jessi Bon supports Clark’s order, which is effective immediately and lasts until July 6. Residents are normally allowed to discharge fireworks from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. only on July 4, and fireworks are prohibited at all other times, according to a city press release.
“We’re facing unprecedented risk and we need to ensure the safety of our community above all else,” Clark said. “If folks were to light fireworks during this time, small fires could quickly turn into major incidents across the island and overwhelm the department. This order tempers this unnecessary risk, protecting our homes, our neighbors, and our firefighters.”
Anyone who violates the order may be subject to criminal prosecution or civil penalty in the amount of $500 for each violation, according to a city press release. To ensure that people are following the order, Mercer Island Police Department officers will be conducting enhanced patrols over the Fourth of July weekend.
Prior to Clark’s order, the city issued the Mercer Island Kiwanis Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5760 an operational permit for fireworks sales, with operations conforming to state and city permit restrictions. That sales permit remains intact.
The duo will sell items from June 29 through July 4 at its TNT Fireworks stand fundraiser in the parking lot of the Rite-Aid at 3023 78th Ave. SE. Hours will be from noon to 6 p.m. on June 29-30; noon to 8 p.m. on July 1-3; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 4.
Proceeds from the fireworks sale help provide services to a plethora of Mercer Island and Eastside community organizations serving youth, including the Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club, Mercer Island Schools Foundation, Kindering, Eastside Baby Corner, the Mercer Island High School Key Club, and the Lakeridge Elementary K-Kids.
“This is an important fundraiser for both organizations and we recognize the challenge this ban creates, but public safety is imperative and the risk of fire danger is simply too high,” said Bon, who suggests that residents may consider donating to the organizations to help mitigate the impacts of the ban.
