The City of Sequim’s first Fourth of July without fireworks being discharged came and went without much of a bang, report city and Clallam County Fire District 3 officials.

This was the first year following a 2016 citizens’ advisory vote (65.6 percent, or 2,642 of city residents in favor) asking Sequim city councilors pass an ordinance to ban discharging fireworks in city limits. City Council followed voters’ requests and unanimously voted for an ordinance to ban discharging fireworks starting this summer.

Sgt. Sean Madison said compliance for the first year of the ban went OK.

“Everyone we asked to stopped, stopped lighting off fireworks,” he said. “It was a lot of small stuff – kids with safe and sane fireworks.”

Between July 4-5 there were 18 fireworks-related calls for service in city limits with four of those from the same person, Sequim Police report.

Madison said the Sequim resident unknowingly reported that fireworks were going off in the city when they were actually in unincorporated Clallam County where commercial fireworks are allowed from June 28-July 5 as late as midnight depending on the day.

“The fact is, the city is surrounded by an ocean of county,” Madison said. “A lot what’s being reported to us in the form of complaints is originating in the county.”

This year, Sequim Police reported they’d continue to seek compliance rather than criminal offenses where residents could face a gross misdemeanor fine up to $5,000 or up to 364 days in jail for shooting fireworks.

Prior to the ban, Sequim Police reported that 10 calls for fireworks violations were made June 30-July 5, 2017, with four of those on July 4.

This year, no complaints were made prior to the Fourth of July, Sequim Police report.

Tony Hudson, assistant chief of operations and training for Fire District 3, reported fire crews responded to one fireworks-related 50-feet-by-50-feet brush fire on July 4 near the intersection of Old Olympic Highway and Gasman Road.

No fireworks-related fires were reported in city limits, he said.

Booth sales

While discharging fireworks wasn’t allowed in the city, commercial fireworks went for sale from nonprofits’ booths June 28-July 5 by JCPenney (Sequim Worship Center) and Walmart (Sequim Vineyard). When city councilors first discussed a fireworks ban in the summer of 2016, some didn’t want to negatively impact nonprofits who operate fireworks booths for various causes. The ordinance allows for up to four booths for nonprofits to sell commercial fireworks in city limits in that span.

Jonathan Simonson, pastor for Sequim Vineyard/ Sequim Valley Foursquare, said they had one of their best years ever as a fundraiser this Fourth of July.

“I think that happened mostly because Sequim was down two fireworks stands,” he said. “We’re planning to do it again next year.”

Madison said a team of city officials met several times in recent months creating awareness through flyers, newspapers, social media, utility bills and more about the fireworks discharge ban.

“We did everything we could to get the word out,” he said. “It wasn’t a surprise to people we spoke with.”

This summer, Sequim joined the cities of Port Angeles and Port Townsend to ban the discharge of consumer fireworks.

Conversations continue with Clallam County Commissioners to consider an ordinance that could ban consumer fireworks in unincorporated Clallam County with a public hearing at 6 p.m. July 17 in room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

Simonson said he wants to make sure people let their voices be heard that fireworks not be banned in the county.

“I had many veterans stop in (at the booth) and receive their military discount and tell me this is a freedom that they fought for,” he said.

One veteran, Simonson said, told him “’a few loud booms in the name of freedom remind us how we got here.’”

For more information about the ban, call the City of Sequim at 360-683-4139 or the Sequim Police Department at 360-683-7227.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.