West Coast Cities To Ban Fireworks This 4th of July Due To Concerns That They Will Spark Wildfires

This weekend is the Fourth of July, but, due to concerns that fireworks could spark wildfires, several cities across the West will be without them this holiday weekend.

The West has been hit by a severe drought. The region’s already-depleted moisture supply has been exacerbated by this week’s record heatwave, which has warmed the earth and drained the region’s already-depleted moisture supply. As a result, existing hazardous wildfire conditions are becoming downright disastrous. As a result, fireworks bans have been enacted across the region in an attempt to make an already terrible situation much worse.

This week, Portland has been the epicenter of some of the most intense heat. On three consecutive days, the city set records for its all-time high temperature, culminating in a day when it reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it hasn’t rained in the last two weeks, and the city has only received 32% of its usual rainfall since April 1.

As part of a state of emergency, Bend, Oregon, placed limits on fireworks on Monday. It lasts until July 9 and carries a hefty $750 fine for those who break it, although two professional shows will still go on. On Tuesday, the counties of Oregon: Tualatin, Milwaukie, and Clark as well as the cities of Camas, Washougal, and Battle Ground in Washington, imposed similar limits. Fireworks are also prohibited in some cities and counties in Utah, where the governor recently requested residents to pray for rain.

If you think this is excessive, consider that fireworks cause an average of 18,500 fires each year when they collide with cars, buildings, and trees. Last week’s Sky Fire in Fresno County, California, was started by fireworks and mercifully only burned 26 acres. Attendees at a gender reveal party in San Bernadino, California, set off a big fire with smoke from a firework device last summer. In Arizona, a similar pyrotechnic-themed revelation in 2017 culminated in a 47,000-acre fire that cost $8.2 million to put out. In Oregon, a 15-year-old unintentionally sparked off a fire with fireworks, charring more than 30,000 acres.

A statement signed by more than 100 fire scientists recently called for a blanket ban on fireworks: Research shows a staggering increase in human-caused fires on July 4th; the holiday is by far the most common day for wildfires to start. Fireworks are one cause, but so are barbeques, stray smokes thrown at gatherings, and other malicious conduct. Fireworks, though, continue to play a part in the mayhem. Fire weather is becoming more severe as a result of climate change, and the two causes combined are a nightmare.

“Adapting to longer, more intense fire seasons will require reconsidering some traditions and activities,” the researchers wrote. “As you celebrate this Fourth of July, stay safe and help out the firefighters, your neighbors, and yourself by preventing accidental wildfires.”