In honor of “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” our local skies will light up with fireworks this Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Fireworks and Fourth of July are tied together like peanut butter and jelly, another All-American favorite.
However, with all the fun and excitement fireworks can generate during this festive weekend, they can also wreak havoc, causing injury and fires.
In 2010, 575 fireworks incidents were reported to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. This included 162 injuries, of which 50 were children under the age of 14. To add insult to injury, if you are lighting off fireworks within the Redmond city limits it can lead to a fine of up to $5,000 and maybe even jail time — up to a year — or both. Possession of illegal explosive devices, such as M-80’s, M-100’s and larger, altered fireworks, and public display mortars, is a federal offense.
For those living outside the city limits in unincorporated King County, it is legal to set off fireworks, but only on July 4 from 9 a.m. to midnight. Fireworks sales legally began on Tuesday and continue daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. through July 4. No sales can occur after July 4. To purchase fireworks, you must be at least 16 years of age with picture identification.
If you must set off fireworks — in a legal area and time zone — State Fire Marshal Charles Duffy says to remember the three B’s of fireworks safety:
• Be prepared: Have water nearby and put your pets indoors.
• Be safe: Only adults should light off fireworks (of the 162 fireworks-related injuries suffered in 2010, 50 affected children under the age of 14).
• Be responsible: Clean up fireworks debris.
The best way to safely enjoy fireworks this Fourth of July season is to use fireworks money for more treats for the barbecue and leave the fireworks show up to the professionals. Here are some cool, nearby Fourth of July fireworks shows that you can check out:
• Bellevue Family Fourth: www.bellevuedowntown.org/events
• Fourth of July Fireworks, Kenmore: www.cityofkenmore.com
• Celebrate Kirkland, Kirkland: www.celebratekirkland.org
• Fourth at the Lake Celebration, Newcastle: www.ci.newcastle.wa.us
• Fabulous Fourth of July, Renton: www.ci.renton.wa.us
• Fourth on the Plateau, Sammamish: www.ci.sammamish.wa.us
For those who wish to see fireworks in Redmond, Derby Days offers its annual display at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 10 at Redmond City Hall campus, 15670 NE 85th St.
Do your part and play it safe while enjoying the Fourth of July.
