After hearing impassioned reasons from the public in March to ban or keep public fireworks displays in Carrie Blake Community Park, Sequim City Councilors opted to have staff do more research before any decisions are made.

Councilors directed staff to bring back more research on fireworks’ impacts and possible options regarding this year’s Independence Day fireworks display to the April 28th council meeting.

Public Works Director Paul Bucich wrote via email that staff will ask councilors specifically if they want to continue with a Fourth of July fireworks display this year, stop doing city-led fireworks shows in 2026 and beyond, and if so, do they want staff to bring back an ordinance change eliminating all professionally organized fireworks displays in city limits.

He said the April 28 discussion is not about banning public displays, but whether to continue with the 2025 Fourth of July fireworks display sponsored by the City of Sequim.

“Cessation of fireworks display at city events does not under current code language prevent other events such as the Logging Show from having a display (with permit from the city),” he said.

The Sequim Logging Show’s fireworks display is still set for dusk on Friday, May 9 in the park.

Bucich said staff will also calculate the distance as best as possible from the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s property where there is a bald eagle’s nest to the park where they discharge fireworks.

“The issue is the potential for the noise of the fireworks to disturb nesting eagles within half-a-mile if they have not acclimated to the sounds,” Bucich said.

This was one of many concerns from a handful of concerned residents in February who requested councilors stop fireworks displays due to potential impacts on birds and other wildlife, sensitive locals such as infants and people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and possible fires in neighboring Garry Oak trees.

Staff will also see what other cities have implemented in regards to any environmental impact.

At the March 24 council meeting, Bucich told councilors an environmental impact study would be costly and not advised for such a specific investigation.

“An environmental assessment is a very specific term and not what we’re looking to do here,” he said.

If the city council agrees to not host a fireworks show this year, the city could lose its $4,000 deposit, staff said.

Options

At the March 24 meeting, city staff recommended a resident survey about fireworks. Councilors were supportive of the notion but no action was taken.

Bucich said via email they haven’t settled on an outreach structure yet but it will likely involve social media, the city’s website and some other method to be determined.

He said they will not be conducting a formal advisory vote, similar to a November 2016 action where then-councilors asked city residents if they wanted to ban the discharge of fireworks.

Residents voted 65.6% in favor, and city councilors agreed to ban the discharge of fireworks in 2017. The city-led Independence Day fireworks display started in 2021.

Councilors recently agreed in October to ban the sale of commercial fireworks in city limits effective this October; however permitted booth sales will be allowed one more summer from June 28-July 5.

Bucich said they will not be investigating any environmental impact of drones from the Sequim Sunshine Festival, and he told councilors they wouldn’t consider replacing Fourth of July fireworks ($19,000) with drones due to cost ($35,000 for the Sunshine Festival).

Funds for both celebrations come from the city’s Lodging Tax fund.

Hannah Merrill, Sequim parks and events manager, said adding another drone show could make the Sunshine Festival’s show less of an anchoring event., but she said the city could consider enhancing the Fourth of July family experience with more daytime events if they stop fireworks. Councilor Harmony Rutter suggested investigating the idea of a carnival, similar to the Irrigation Festival.

City staff said due to many reasons, there are no other suitable locations for the fireworks show in the city other than Carrie Blake Community Park.

Impact

Those who spoke in February requesting a fireworks ban spoke again on March 24 questioning the city’s research, particularly a staff report stating there was not an eagle’s nest within a state map from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In the city’s report, staff wrote that under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the definition for disturbing the eagles “does not seem to be sufficient information to support a claim of the City violating the Act” due to the show’s 20-30 minute length, and because of the state map’s lack of identification of an eagle’s nest.

Bucich told councilors along with the distance from the fireworks area to the nest, they’ll seek more definitive answers on the impact of fireworks on eagles.

In February, the city revealed a letter from Department of Fish and Wildlife staff in September 2024 recommending the city move the fireworks show or switch to a drone show due to potential fire danger to the Garry Oak trees.

Bucich said he reached out to their staff to see if the city was doing something wrong and if they were concerned about their method to prevent fires. He told councilors there were no concerns as the city was watering the nearby area and monitoring to make sure there was no impact.

In regards to other health concerns with the ponds in Carrie Blake Community Park, he said they’re becoming a “human health issue” as birds continue to carpet the fields and walkways with feces.

“We have created an artificial habitat that we really need to start thinking carefully about how we’re managing that,” Bucich said.

Feedback

Of those who spoke for and against a fireworks display in March, most commented that a celebration of some kind is welcomed on Independence Day.

Councilor Vicki Lowe said she’s conflicted about fireworks because she’s watched the Logging Show from a nearby treehouse for years.

“I’m really torn about this issue because I do think it’s important to protect the most vulnerable, and sometimes that’s not just people, that’s animals,” she said. “So I’d really like to see us come up with a really good compromise.”

Councilor Rachel Anderson was the only councilor to express her desire on March 24 to keep the fireworks display for 2025. She and others said they want to reach out to the community for more feedback on future shows.

Shellie Torrence, co-director of the Sequim Logging Show, said in the event’s 20-plus years they’ve only had one small incident but a clean up crew was on hand to deal with it.

Fireworks are also made to be more “eco-friendly now,” she said, and the public knows well in advance that the Logging Show and Fourth of July shows are going to happen.

Denise Irish of Sequim asked councilors, “Why stomp on any joy or good memories to be made?”

“Please leave fireworks alone,” she said. “It’s only 20 minutes of magic and memories.”

If fireworks were stopped, Carly Page, another Sequim resident, said she would be concerned about the potential impact on the city’s future and on the local economy and tourism industry.

“It would hurt the spirit of our community,” she said.

Regarding an impact on veterans, Post Commander Ken Bearly for Sequim VFW post 4760 said he’s met with thousands of veterans, and “I’ve not met a single one that suffered from fireworks displays.”

“Instead, it usually creates a reason for many of them to come together,” he said.

Bearly emphasized the historical significance of fireworks and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

“These displays bring communities together, provide opportunities for veterans to connect with our fellow citizens and share their experiences, and feel a sense of belonging and appreciation amongst our community,” he said.

“They serve as a reminder of the sacrifice made by veterans and their families and the importance of preserving the freedom and the way of American life.”

He added that “it’d be a shame to stop Sequim’s tradition on the 250th anniversary of the Shot heard around the World that started the American Revolution.

Jamie Porter of Agnew and the group Protect the Peninsula’s Future said it’s “important to find a way that’s safe and doesn’t induce stress anxiety” to celebrate. She said it’s an emotional topic, but she wants to do what’s safe for the environment and community.

Felicia Dycer of Sequim shared her concerns about the harm of fireworks on people and animals from loud noises, and the metals in fireworks being inhaled and going into nearby soil.

Rhonda Coats of Sequim, representing the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, said she questioned how many tourists come only for a fireworks display.

“What drives our economy, we are known for having over 400 species of birds flying through the Olympic Peninsula … If we want to talk tourism that’s got to be a pretty compelling reason,” she said.

“I get that it’s emotional and I get that it’s important but we have so many other creative ways to celebrate our nationality,” she said.

Fire Chief Justin Grider with Clallam County Fire District 3 said firefighters are proponents of public displays because “it keeps the private displays down to a minimum, in theory” and prevents fires and injuries.

For more about Sequim City Council meetings, visit https://www.sequimwa.gov/215/Agendas-Minutes.