The Redmond City Council voted unanimously July 1 to adopt Emergency Ordinance 2025-13, which prohibits private use of legal consumer fireworks beginning 12:01 a.m. on July 5 and authorizes additional code-enforcement measures during declared fire emergencies.

Council members said the move balances longstanding Fourth of July traditions with growing wildfire risk after five local fires since June 3. Mayor Fitch and council members agreed the ordinance takes effect immediately as an emergency measure, runs through the end of the calendar year, and will lapse earlier if the fire district removes a burn ban.

The council framed the ordinance as a limited, time-bound measure for 2025. “Legal fireworks will be banned beginning midnight on July 4,” Mayor Fitch said during the meeting before staff clarified that the fireworks prohibition in the ordinance becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 5. City staff described the ordinance’s scope as allowing emergency procurement and other measures while a state of emergency is in effect.

The ordinance designates fireworks violations as a class A civil administrative infraction enforceable by police or code enforcement. Council discussion and public testimony at the meeting focused on two enforcement priorities: stopping illegal, high-powered fireworks and finding practical ways to enforce after-hours or off-site use. Resident David Oldweiler urged stronger enforcement, saying illegal fireworks "have not been properly enforced, if at all." City staff and the mayor said the city has shifted responsibility so that valid complaints can be followed up by code enforcement with citations to property owners.

Public commenters at the special meeting presented two consistent themes: community tradition and fundraising tied to legal fireworks sales, and concerns about fire risk, noise and sleep disturbance. Bridal Cottrell, representing TNT Fireworks, asked the city to use vendor partnerships for safety education and disposal messaging and said the company stands "ready as a partner with the city council" to promote safe, legal use. Ed Forsyth, president of New Season Ministries, said statewide data showed a small share of fires were attributed to fireworks, telling the council "only 1.7% of all fires in Oregon was started because of fireworks" over a 28-year period he reviewed.

Fire and police officials said enforcement on July 4 will be challenging because of competing public-safety priorities. Captain Lopez of the fire department noted that Bend has reported reduced complaint volume after a ban but that multiple factors influence call numbers. City staff explained the complaint-driven process: residents who can provide a time, place and manner for an alleged illegal-fireworks incident may file a report; code enforcement will follow up and may issue citations to property owners if complaints are validated.

Council members also discussed nonregulatory approaches. Several suggested increased community education, designated supervised sites, and neighborhood volunteer monitoring as ways to reduce unsafe fireworks use without eliminating celebrations. Councilor Jay and others said the council will revisit policy for 2026 after evaluating outcomes and data collected this year.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-13 (Emergency ordinance declaring a state of emergency due to extreme weather conditions and restricting fireworks) — Adopted unanimously by roll call: Councilor Evelyn, Mayor Fitch, Councilor Nielsen, Councilor Osborne, Councilor Patrick, Councilor Wedding and Councilor Zwicker all voted Aye.

The council thanked residents and presenters for the testimony and said staff will return after the Fourth to review data and discuss longer-term policy options.