Fireworks are illegal in the city of Vancouver and there are limits to when they can be used in other parts of Clark County

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Neighborhoods throughout Clark County have been hearing the booms, feeling the shakes, and seeing the bright lights of fireworks for a few days now.

Every year around this time, fireworks start to become more frequent.

In most places in Clark County, every boom that has already been heard was against the law. In many places in the county, fireworks are only allowed on the Fourth of July.

And in Vancouver, fireworks are never legal.

It is important for those celebrating Independence Day with fireworks to understand the laws.

It is also important for those complaining about illegal or nuisance fireworks to use the right contact number. 

The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency will set up a phone number for complaints. It will be operational from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m. on July 3, 1 p.m. until 1 a.m. on July 4, and 7 p.m. until midnight on July 5 and July 6. That number is: (360) 597-7888

The holiday and the holiday week are busy days for fire department personnel and law enforcement agencies. Residents are asked to not call 9-1-1 or 3-1-1 for nuisance fireworks. Only call 9-1-1 in an emergency when there is a fire, injury, or when lives are in danger.

As a reminder:

• All fireworks are illegal in the city of Vancouver.
• In unincorporated Clark County, the use of fireworks are allowed from 9 a.m. until midnight on the Fourth of July and only on the Fourth of July.
• The cities of Amboy, Camas, Ridgefield, and Washougal have the same designated hours, from 9 a.m. until midnight on the Fourth of July only. And for Washougal, only “safe and sane” fireworks are allowed.
• In Battle Ground and in La Center, folks there get two days to legally use fireworks this week, July 3 and July 4, from 9 a.m. until midnight each day.
• In Woodland, with its city limits in Clark and Cowlitz counties, the legal period for fireworks starts today, July 1, and runs through the Fourth of July, 9 a.m. until midnight on all days.
• Yacolt has a longer period. Fireworks were allowed there starting on June 28, and are allowed from 9 a.m. until midnight through July 5. 

The Clark County government’s website has a page with links to all the rules regarding fireworks in the region. There is also a map that one can input an address to see if fireworks are legal at that address. That page can be found here: https://clark.wa.gov/community-development/fireworks

Sales of fireworks in Clark County started on June 28. Using fireworks outside of the allowed dates and times can result in a civil fine. Fines start at $500 per violation.