Medical Lake asks residents to be safe on July 4

The city of Medical Lake is reminding residents to be safe this Fourth of July holiday.

Medical Lake is one of the few cities in Spokane County that currently allows fireworks to be set off on private property within city limits.

The city has already approved two fireworks stands this year. J&M LLC., has a stand already set up on the corner of North Lefevre Street, where the Ball and Dodd Funeral Home used to be, while TNT Fireworks will be located in the Denny’s Harvest Foods parking lot.

Medical Lake Fire Chief Jason Mayfield noted there is more moisture in the air this year than last. Although the temperatures are cooler, both he and City Administrator Doug Ross do not want residents to “get complacent” when it comes to lighting fireworks.

“Just because the weather is different does not mean fireworks are less of a hazard,” Ross said.

For residents who plan to light fireworks, Ross recommends they have water nearby to extinguish fireworks after they are discharged, and dispose of the debris.

He added that residents should be mindful of their neighbors and pets that may not enjoy fireworks.

“Not everyone gets the same pleasure from loud noises and bright lights,” Ross said. “Fireworks scare a lot of people.”

In 2015, the city asked residents to “voluntarily ban” fireworks, a result of the drought conditions, hot temperatures and several large wildfires in the area. During that year the Fire Department had two fire trucks on patrol and were aided by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and SCOPE (Spokane Community Oriented Police Effort) volunteers.

“Our citizens did a great job in being safe,” Mayfield said. “Last year was the most subdued (Fourth of July) in Medical Lake since I’ve been here. We still had calls and some fires, but they were less serious.”

Mayfield added that the city is not currently planning to ask residents to ban fireworks, but he will continue to “keep an eye on the weather.”

The city can also enact Ordinance 1044, which allows the Fire Department’s fire chief to “prohibit the discharge of fireworks in the city under extreme fire danger,” which the ordinance defines as “a period of hot, dry weather accompanied by low fuel moistures.”

Mayfield added that the Fire Department may once again partner with the Sheriff’s Office and SCOPE for July 4.

“Those agencies were great assets and we enjoyed partnering with them,” Mayfield said. “Any time we get to work them, it makes a difference.”

According to the Washington State Patrol’s website, fireworks that are legal to use on July 4 in Washington state include cylindrical and cone fountains, sparklers, smoke devices, Roman candles, parachutes, wheel, ground spinners, reloadable mortars, novelties and dipped sticks.

Illegal fireworks consist of sky rockets and missiles, chasers, fire crackers, bottle rockets and improvised explosive devices.

“We’re hoping that folks remember how bad last year was and that they heed the warnings,” Mayfield said. “We want folks to have a good time (on July 4), but we also want them to be safe.”

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].