HomeMy WebLinkAbout061526 Fireworks Ban in Jefferson CountyALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
To whom it may concern,
I am the president of the common interest community at Beckett Point. Every year we struggle with the question of fireworks. Typically in our June meeting we vote on guidance for our
members about where and when fireworks will be allowed for the July 4th weekend. There are many on our board and in our community that think we should stop allowing fireworks because
of the increasing risk and negative effects of them but many also don’t want to be the one to ruin the fun. We all remember a different time decades ago when life was simpler, fireworks
were “Safe and Sane” and our forests weren’t as dry. There is great nostalgia for that.
Last year the county did such a great job of advertising the fire danger, getting all of the signs out, information on the websites, etc. We watch your information closely and communicate
it all to our members. Most of us were very happy when you decided to prohibit fireworks last year. You did it early so people could plan and communicated it well. Our community
is grateful for the fire mitigation work that you do.
In September 2011, we had a grass fire on the hill above the spit in our community started by some kids playing with left over fireworks. That fire came so close to catching the woods
on fire and enveloping many of the homes on the crest of the hill outside of our community. We have been told that it took 100+ firefighters and multiple helicopter water drops to
get it under control. That was 15 years ago when our forests were in much better shape to withstand a fire. Over the last year, our community has invested over $20,000 in forest fire
mitigation work, partnering with DNR who has in addition covered $5-$6,000 of those costs. We also purchased our own fire danger sign and had it installed this month. We are very
concerned about the risk of fire to our community and our forest land.
As a person responsible, along with fellow board members, for managing our community to ensure our members safety and their opportunity to enjoy their leaseholds, the answer is clear.
Fireworks are too risky and have too many other negative side effects such as the heavy metal pollution they cause in our Discovery Bay. Life would be safer, and simpler if they were
banned permanently. Yes they are fun for a very small number of residents, who in recent years are launching fireworks out of mortar tubes that travel very high and deposit a large
amount of pollution and fire risk. Shifting weather conditions are not adequately taken into account and none of the people deploying them would have the capability to dealing with
the disastrous results if a home or hillside were to be ignited.
Please permanently ban fireworks in Jefferson County. I believe the vast majority of the people in our community will be very glad if you do.
Kevin Camfield