PC Fire Marshal: Fireworks Allowed Only July 4 (and New Year’s Eve)

The Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau wants the Key Peninsula to enjoy fireworks on the Fourth of July. Just don’t do them before or after.

Beginning this year the fire marshal, in consultation with the county executive, will have the authority to temporarily ban fireworks if the conditions are unsafe for their use.

Detonating fireworks in unincorporated Pierce County, including the Key Peninsula, is only allowed Tuesday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to midnight. Using them before or after may result in consequences.

“Just because we’ve had some rain and cooler temperatures (in June) doesn’t negate all that dry brush out there,” warned Pierce County Fire Marshal Ken Rice.

The Fire Prevention Bureau says to soak all used fireworks in a pail of water overnight to prevent accidental flare-ups.

“A lot of fires start because people throw (used fireworks) in the garbage soon after using them while they’re still hot,” Rice said.

Firecrackers and bottle rockets are illegal on the KP, and M-80s, cherry bombs, tennis ball bombs, and pipe bombs are illegal everywhere in the state. Report firework complaints to Pierce County’s non-emergency complaint line: 253-287-4455 or 1-800-562-9800. Rice said to keep an eye on www.piercecountywa.gov for the latest on fire and firework bans.