Know the local law before setting off fireworks
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 3 months AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | June 23, 2025 1:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — The calendar is counting down to Independence Day, and fireworks stands are offering combustible fun all over the Basin. Before you start lighting fuses, however, make sure you know the local laws.
Washington state law allows fireworks sales and use from noon to 11 p.m. June 28 and then from 9 a.m. to midnight June 29-July 3. On the Fourth itself, fireworks can be set off from 9 a.m. to midnight, and then July 5 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
But that doesn’t mean you can buy just any fireworks. Those firecrackers and bottle rockets you picked up out of state? Those are illegal. Fountains, whistlers, Roman candles, sparklers and wheels – basically, things that make smoke and pretty sparks – are designated Class C or common fireworks and can be set off legally in Washington. Things that explode – firecrackers, bottle rockets, M-80s and skyrockets – are illegal and legitimate fireworks stands don’t offer those. It’s legal to buy them on an Indian reservation, but as soon as you step off the reservation, they’re illegal to possess or transport, let alone set off.
The unincorporated parts of Grant and Adams counties follow Washington law, except that fireworks are completely prohibited in Marine View, Marine View Heights, Crescent Bar, the Gorge Amphitheatre and campground and Desert Aire, except Desert Aire Park. A county board of commissioners can declare a fireworks ban if conditions require, but so far neither has this year.
Many of the cities and towns in the Basin have their own regulations when it comes to fireworks.
Coulee City: Fireworks are prohibited except at the designated jetty area at the park. Violating that can land the user with a fine of no less than $1,000.
Ephrata: All aerial fireworks are prohibited, and violation carries a $1,251 fine. Sparklers, morning glory, wheels, smoke bombs, ground spinners, cones and fountains are allowed.
George: Fireworks are legal except in the town park and anywhere that has signs indicating that fireworks are prohibited.
Lind: State law applies.
Mattawa: State law applies, except that the hours when fireworks may be set off are a little tighter: noon-11 p.m. June 28, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. June 29-July 4 and 9 a.m.-11 p.m. July 5.
Moses Lake: All fireworks are prohibited within city limits.
Othello: Fireworks may only be set off between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. July 1-3 and 9 a.m.-11 p.m. July 4.
Quincy: Fireworks are permitted 9 a.m.-11 p.m. July 3 and 9 a.m.-midnight July 4.
Ritzville: State law applies.
Royal City: State law applies.
Soap Lake: Fireworks are prohibited in city limits.
Warden: State law applies.
If you’re going to set off fireworks, do it safely. It’s no secret that the Basin gets pretty dry in the summer, and fires can break out from the smallest spark. Handling fireworks incorrectly can also cause serious injuries, especially to children and pets. The Washington State Patrol recommends people:
• Only use legal fireworks.
• Have a bucket or hose nearby.
• Supervise children around fireworks.
• Get rid of defective fireworks properly.
• If you have a defective firework, soak in water overnight, drain off water, tie it up in a garbage bag and throw it in the trash.
• Do not consume alcohol or drugs while using fireworks.
• Safely dispose of fireworks by soaking them in water after use.
• Keep fireworks and sparklers away from your body. Sparklers can reach up to the temperature of 2,000 degrees.
Pet owners should be prepared for fireworks season. Dogs, cats and horses can get panicky in the face of explosions and flashing lights. The American Veterinary Medical Association has these tips:
• Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades and other gatherings. Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there's a great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away.
• Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks.
• Keep horses and livestock in safe fenced areas and as far from the excitement and noise as possible.
• If you're hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant.
• Keep your pets inside if you or your neighbors are setting off fireworks.
• Keep sparklers, glow sticks and fireworks away from curious pets.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”