Lions Club ready for Goldendale Fourth; council and safety officials urge caution

Representatives of the Lions Club briefed the Goldendale City Council on Fourth of July fireworks plans and the council expressed consensus to let the Lions proceed as the sponsoring organization while the vendor resolves licensing and insurance paperwork.

Mr. Olsen, representing the Lions Club, told the council the club is ready from its side but said the business operator (referred to as West) still needs to provide a business license and proof of insurance. "We're ready to go," Olsen said, while noting the vendor had run into business-license glitches and the Lions were the sponsoring organization that would handle scholarship proceeds.

Fire Chief Noah Hall warned the council and community to be cautious because conditions will be dry by July 4. He emphasized that the school district does not want fireworks on school property and described recurring problems after fireworks at World War II Park, including heavy traffic and litter. He said the city typically places a dumpster at the park and public-works crews pick up remaining debris, but that the city does not station staff there to monitor behavior. On the city's response capability, Chief Hall recounted a recent single-wide trailer fire in which the first engine arrived about four minutes after the page — illustrating rapid fire spread in that housing type.

Council members asked whether there are designated areas for setting off fireworks; responses indicated the city enforces allowable hours and that the fire marshal helps regulate sites. Council gave the Lions Club a consensus to proceed as the sponsoring nonprofit and asked staff to continue coordinating with the vendor and public-safety agencies.

What’s next: The Lions Club will continue preparations and the council asked staff, the fire department and the marshal to coordinate safety and cleanup plans ahead of the Fourth of July.