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Residents urge Thurston County to impose fireworks ban amid wildfire, safety and noise concerns
Summary
Public commenters told commissioners that unregulated fireworks pose increasing wildfire and noise risks and asked the board to adopt a countywide ban after surrounding jurisdictions imposed restrictions.
Speakers at the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners meeting on March 25 urged commissioners to adopt an unincorporated‑countywide ban on fireworks, citing wildfire risk, noise, litter and harm to pets and veterans with post‑traumatic stress disorder.
Michelle Blanchard, a Little Rock resident, said 56 people submitted testimony either by email or in person asking for a fireworks ban in unincorporated Thurston County and described local conditions she said make fireworks more hazardous now than in past decades. "I do ask, please consider an all countywide fireworks ban," Blanchard said.
Blanchard and others pointed to nearby jurisdictions that imposed fireworks bans last year — Pierce County, King County and the cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater — and asked Thurston County to follow suit for public‑safety reasons and to reduce noise and litter.
Dennis Plank, who described himself as an engineer and the husband of Blanchard, cited state climate‑office data that he said show a long‑term drying trend. "The total change since 1890 in precipitation for [June] has decreased by roughly 25 percent," Plank said, adding that "the average temperature in June is increased by 2.73 degrees Fahrenheit." He said those trends contribute to a longer dry season and greater fire risk.
The chair asked clarifying questions about the source of the public input; county staff indicated the comments included submissions through a public comments portal and email. Commissioners did not announce an immediate policy change; the comments were made during the public comment period, and no board directive to develop an ordinance was recorded at the March 25 meeting.
