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Police warn Federal Way residents personal fireworks are illegal; $615 fine, extra patrols planned
Summary
Deputy Chief Kyle Sumter reminded residents that all personal-use fireworks are illegal within Federal Way city limits, outlined public-safety risks and injury statistics, and said officers will enforce the ban with extra patrols and $615 citations around July 4.
Federal Way — City police warned residents June 17 that personal fireworks are illegal inside Federal Way city limits and said officers will step up enforcement around July 4, with tickets set at $615.
Deputy Chief Kyle Sumter told the council personal fireworks remain prohibited within city limits and listed the main reasons: noise and wildlife impacts, air and ground pollution, injuries and risk of fires. “Sparklers ... burn at the heat of a blowtorch, 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit,” Sumter said, citing recent national injury data. He said the city will do outreach and add enforcement patrols in the days surrounding July 4, and the police department will confiscate fireworks where violations occur.
Sumter asked residents to call nonemergency dispatch at (253) 835-2121 for violations; chronic offenders reported in advance via his email can receive proactive outreach. Councilmember Honda described two backyard fires she experienced that she traced to fireworks and urged residents to think of public safety and property risk.
The department said confiscated fireworks are stored until the bomb disposal team incinerates them at a regional site after the season. Sumter encouraged voluntary compliance and outreach by homeowners associations and property managers to reduce risks.
What happens next: Extra fireworks patrols will operate around July 4; officers will pursue voluntary compliance and issue $615 citations and confiscate illegal fireworks if needed.
