Snoqualmie fire chief reports no fireworks-related injuries on July 4; department reviewed fireworks setbacks after show

Fire Chief Kevin Bailey told the Snoqualmie City Council on July 14 that the fire department received no confirmed fireworks-related calls or transports within the city on July 4 and that commercial fireworks stands passed inspection. Bailey said staffing allowed the city to keep an engine and an aid car staffed with three personnel each for 24 hours on the holiday.

The report matters because council members heard that public-safety staffing and pre-event inspections reduced the number of fireworks incidents and that the department is reviewing safety setbacks after live debris from the pyrotechnic show landed near the crowd.

Bailey said the department performed daily inspections of the two permitted fireworks stands from June 28 through July 4 and found only minor issues that were corrected; he said the stands were cleaned up by July 7 per municipal requirements. "Prior to the fourth of July, we had no fireworks related calls were received," Bailey said. He described staffing as five career staff and eight volunteers at different times during the day and said he personally was available from 8 a.m. until midnight to support crews.

Bailey said the department responded to typical non-firework calls during the day (three fire alarms and four aid calls), and that some reports of minor injuries were unconfirmed because the people involved left before crews located them. He said department personnel conducted area patrols looking for illegal fireworks and coordinated with police when a homeowner was reported as possibly setting off illegal devices; Bailey said officers checked the scene and found no violations.

At the community fireworks show, Bailey said some lit material landed in the lower-field crowd area and a shell fell short and bounced to the crowd's outskirts. He said there were no reported injuries and that he stayed on scene, then met with the pyrotechnic crew after the show to discuss the incident. "We're gonna make sure that we take a look at the setbacks, if you will, from the fireworks show, really make sure that we have those in the right place and possibly expand those out further and look for some additional safety matters," Bailey said.

Bailey also described community relations activities: fire crews participated in the kids' parade, displayed apparatus and handed out items at Community Park, and walked the pyrotechnic area after the show to check for smoldering debris. Councilor Cotton asked whether the complainant had met with Bailey after the event; Bailey said the resident did not take him up on the offer to meet on the Monday follow-up.

Council received the report; no formal action or policy change was taken at the meeting.