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Kennewick expands fireworks safety outreach with regional, multilingual push ahead of July 4
Summary
At a June 9 City Council workshop, Public Information Officer Jillian Hens outlined a coordinated regional campaign that launched June 4 to clarify what fireworks are legal in Kennewick, leverage police and fire partners, add Spanish translations, and send day‑of text reminders; the campaign will be evaluated after July 4 by comparing call volumes and web/social metrics.
Jillian Hens, identified on the agenda as Kennewick’s public information officer and marketing supervisor, told the City Council on June 9 that the city has launched an expanded fireworks safety and education campaign aimed at reducing illegal fireworks use and confusion about what may be ignited inside Kennewick city limits. The campaign began June 4 and will run through July 4, with evaluation scheduled July 5–20.
Hens said Kennewick had 181 fireworks‑related calls in 2025 — a rise from prior years — and noted that 31 of those contacts were proactive outreach by additional units, which inflates the raw count. “Our goal this year for 2026 is to reach a broader audience and ensure that residents know what’s legal to light and what is not within city limits,” Hens said. She asked council members to help distribute materials through HOAs and neighborhood groups and to coordinate messaging with Kennewick Police Department and Kennewick Fire.
The campaign emphasizes clear, plain‑language imagery that communicates allowed items without requiring a click‑through, Hens said, and will include: two boosted social posts per week, a dedicated web FAQ and a new web page, coordination with regional partners to produce Spanish translations, and targeted day‑of text and email reminders for subscribers announcing the hours when fireworks may be used. Hens said the city will also ask local media to use imagery that shows legal fireworks, and promoted the River of Fire festival as a safe alternative for families who do not want to purchase fireworks.
Council members suggested additional tactics aimed at people who buy fireworks outside Kennewick and then use them inside the city limits: roadside or gateway signage at entry points, electronic reader boards, and outreach to fireworks sellers in neighboring jurisdictions asking them to post notices that certain items are illegal across the border. Hens said she would explore those options with partners. One council member urged materials in languages other than English; Hens said the regional campaign coordinated by the Pasco PIO already includes Spanish translations.
Several councilors raised community‑wellbeing concerns, asking the campaign to address the impact on pets and on veterans with PTSD. Hens said messaging would emphasize both safety and the potential for fines for illegal fireworks. She told council the city will measure success by comparing 2026 fireworks calls to 2025 levels and by tracking website traffic and social media reach and engagement after the campaign’s conclusion.
The council did not take formal action at the workshop. Staff committed to incorporate council suggestions and to report on campaign metrics after the July 4 period.
