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Residents urge Island County to restrict fireworks; commissioners weigh advisory vote and code changes
Summary
Residents and advocacy groups urged Island County to ban mortar sales, add fireworks to level-1 burn-ban prohibitions, and place an advisory vote for South Whidbey on the 2025 ballot; commissioners said they have constraints on enforcement and will consider work-session discussion if at least two commissioners request it.
Jackie Lassiter, speaking for Citizens for Safe and Humane Fireworks, asked the Board of Island County Commissioners on March 11 to give South Whidbey residents a chance to vote on a local no-consumer-fireworks zone and to adopt code changes to prohibit sale of mortar fireworks countywide.
"Let the citizens of South Whidbey decide," Lassiter told the board, and she urged adding fireworks to the list of uses prohibited during a level 1 burn ban to reduce wildfire risk and chemical pollution, naming PFAS as a concern.
Two other residents described personal and public-safety impacts. Trish Barnett said the community is "completely worn out" and recounted neighborhood fires and an incident involving an M80. Janice O'Mahoney, a psychiatric social worker, said fireworks "can frequently trigger PTSD for our veterans," and urged the board to consider mental-health impacts when weighing policy options.
Commissioners acknowledged the concerns but described legal and practical limits. One commissioner said the board already banned mortar usage last year and noted a required state-mandated waiting period before that action takes effect: "We are still in that waiting period before implementation of the action we took last year." The chair and other commissioners said enforcement capacity is limited and recommended that petitioners meet with the county auditor to understand the cost and logistical implications of an area-specific advisory vote or referendum.
The board summarized three requests emerging from public comment: (1) an advisory ballot measure for South Whidbey in 2025, (2) a code amendment banning the sale of mortar fireworks across unincorporated Island County, and (3) adding fireworks to items prohibited during a level 1 burn ban. The chair said he will bring items to a work session only if at least two commissioners indicate they are open to discussion.
No formal action on those requests was taken during the March 11 meeting; the board approved the day's agenda and consent agenda and then adjourned.
The next procedural steps for requesters would include meeting with county staff and the auditor to explore ballot mechanics and costs, and asking commissioners to place the topics on a future work session agenda if at least two members support further consideration.
