Clark County briefing: call center logs show fewer fireworks incidents; council discusses countywide rules

Clark County officials reviewed call-center and fire-agency data showing a decline in fireworks-related incidents during the July 3–5 period, and councilors discussed whether countywide uniform dates or restrictions on certain fireworks types could reduce risk.

CRESSA Director Dave Fuller told councilors the county-run fireworks call center — staffed with volunteers and separate from 911 — was started in 2022 to handle nonemergency noise and misuse reports. “I started that in 2022,” Fuller said, and he described the center as having reduced pressure on 911 call-takers by routing nonemergent complaints.

The county’s data briefing said the number of fireworks-related incidents during the July 3–5 period fell compared with the prior year. Fuller cited a 28% reduction for one measure and gave a figure of 147 incidents for July 3–5 on one slide; staff also summarized related “risk incidents” as “about a hundred” in discussion, reflecting different counts by data definition (incidents versus caller reports). Several fire districts reported year-over-year declines: District 6 logged 10 structure fires in the prior year and one this year; District 10 reported no fireworks-related incidents. Vancouver Fire reported lower estimated property loss and noted one injury recorded in its report was a dog-bite incident caused when a German shepherd was spooked by fireworks.

Councilors and staff discussed possible explanations for the decline. Fuller and others said factors likely include public education campaigns, cooler or wetter weather in the lead-up to the holiday, and the timing of the holiday (a three-day weekend in 2025). Councilor Fuentes asked Fuller to forward the presentation to the county executive so other jurisdictions could review the data: “I think that the information would be of good value to them,” Fuentes said, noting the briefing appeared to be the most comprehensive fireworks dataset available in the county.

The presentation highlighted that jurisdictions across the county use different legal discharge dates and times, which complicates public education. Fuller said a uniform set of allowable dates across jurisdictions would make messaging easier. Several councilors urged continuing public education and better coordination between cities and fire districts.

Councilor Young raised concerns about noise and certain aerial fireworks, and said she contacted a manufacturer about whether noise could be reduced. Young reported the manufacturer’s response: “the noise unfortunately comes with the explosion and it’s not something that’s added to make a more dramatic effect intentionally.” Councilors said they want more detailed incident-level data tying specific fire types or injuries to particular kinds of fireworks before considering limits that could affect rural residents’ use of aerial fireworks.

Staff and councilors agreed on next steps but took no formal votes. Councilors directed staff to return with additional information and analysis and scheduled an additional briefing for the first quarter of next year to consider any policy changes that would require a one-year lead time to take effect. Donna (staff member) said she would distribute the materials prepared in response to earlier council questions and share them with the rest of the council ahead of the next briefing.

The council also discussed community options for public displays. Several councilors and staff said the prior public display at Fort Vancouver had lapsed when sale of consumer fireworks (which helped fund the show) fell after Vancouver’s local ban; fundraising and private-sector partnership would be needed to restore large public displays. No formal direction or funding decision was made at the work session.

While the briefing emphasized a favorable short-term trend, councilors and staff repeatedly noted that weather and holiday timing are significant variables and that the county should continue planning for higher-call-volume scenarios. The county will continue to collect and distribute call-center and fire-district data and return with a more detailed analysis at the requested first-quarter briefing.