Effective next fall, vendors and retailers can no longer sell fireworks in the City of Sequim.
Sequim city councilors unanimously approved the ban at their Oct. 14 meeting following a public hearing. Their motion will bring an ordinance to the consent agenda to ban fireworks sales at their Oct. 28 meeting, and if approved, the restriction would go into effect in one year, per state law, starting in October 2025.
The decision comes seven-plus years after the City of Sequim prohibited the discharge of fireworks and sky lanterns in July 2017.
City residents favored banning the discharge of fireworks in a November 2016 advisory vote with 65.6% (2,642) in favor. However, city councilors concurrently approved the discharge ban and opted not to ban the sale of fireworks so nonprofits who operate fireworks booths could still fundraise.
Randall Cearley, a TNT Fireworks area manager, was the lone person to speak against the ban via a conference call on Oct. 14 during the council’s public hearing.
He said the number of complaints are minimal compared to the number of residents who purchase fireworks in the city and that the city should work with organizers to have more signage.
“TNT Fireworks is always in favor of a safe Fourth of July,” he said.
Two emails the city received were in favor of keeping fireworks sales to support nonprofits, whereas four other citizens wrote in support of a ban.
Jim Stoffer, representing Trinity United Methodist Church adjacent to Carrie Blake Community Park Sequim, said he stopped three different families on July 4, 2024 from lighting off fireworks in the church parking lot and adjacent grass field.
He said visitors don’t know the difference between county and city lines, and there’s a lot of confusion.
Lorri Gilchrist, a city resident for 22 years, said she’s had her mailbox blown up by fireworks, her dogs have been terrorized, and she’s concerned about veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) issues.
“It’s very confusing to sell fireworks and then not allow them to be set off,” she said. “We need to be one way or the other.”
She shared a concern for wildland fires, and that a former neighbor’s house burned down due to fireworks.
“I think giving (nonprofits) a whole year after this, gives them time to adjust and find a new way to raise money,” she said.
Sales
Under Sequim Municipal Code, fireworks sales would be allowed one more summer from June 28-July 5, 2025, with one booth allowed per 1,500 city residents. Booth permits are given first preference to local nonprofit groups benefiting youth, and second preference to other local nonprofits.
The city’s three booths in 2024 included Sequim Vineyard at Walmart, Seattle International Christian Church at Safeway, and Big Dog Fireworks at Hardy’s Market.
Sequim’s fire marshal Joel Dressel previously said that a sales ban only applies to the sale of consumer fireworks and not “Trick and Novelty Devices,” such as Pop-its, Snap-N-Pops, and Party Poppers.
He also holds the ability to stop sales if there is a high fire danger.
While the city does not allow the discharge of fireworks, Clallam County allows fireworks to be discharged only on July 4 in unincorporated Sequim, unless there is a high fire danger.
Jefferson County allows the discharge of fireworks from June 28-July 5 at various times.
As part of the ban, Sequim city councilors budgeted to start a public display on the Fourth of July at Carrie Blake Community Park.
Councilor Kathy Downer said on Oct. 14 councilors are not planning or discussing stopping that show.
She prompted a discussion on the ban of fireworks sales in August because she felt it’s misleading that people can’t shoot them off in Sequim, while sales are still allowed.
“It gives them a feeling they can shoot them off,” she said in an interview.
Complaints
Sequim Police chief Mike Hill reports there’s been 26 fireworks complaints the last three years in city limits compared to 81-102 for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and 62-70 for Port Angeles Police Department.
On July 4, 2024, he said there were 11 fireworks complaints between 7 p.m. and midnight, with four found to be in unincorporated Clallam County, one for the city’s fireworks show, and another resident calling multiple times and officers either not being able to find the fireworks or were in the county.
He reports they always receive voluntary compliance from residents to stop, as was the case in 2024.
Officers can offer verbal warnings, seize fireworks, and if complaints persist charge a resident with a gross misdemeanor (a fine up to $5,000 or 364 days in jail), according to the city’s code.
Clallam County Fire District 3 reports all fireworks-related fire calls on July 4, 2024 were in the City of Sequim, with no fireworks calls in Sequim’s portion of unincorporated Clallam County.
Councilor Rachel Anderson said on Oct. 14 that islands of unincorporated Clallam County in or near city limits can be confusing for residents regarding fireworks. She hopes the city can address the confusion in the future because despite some residents’ frustration, “in a lot of cases (county residents) have every right to (shoot fireworks) if they’re in one of those islands.”
