HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-3467 Fireworks W ORDINANCE NO. 34(37
AN ORDINANCE relating to fire; limiting the sale of fireworks
for 1992 to June 30th through July 4th; declaring
an emergency; and amending Subsection 10.15.060A
of the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, Yakima County has experienced an unusually dry
winter and spring resulting in extremely dry and severe condi-
tions in the City of Yakima's open spaces; and
WHEREAS, the unusually dry conditions and hot weather
have created an extreme fire danger within the City of Yakima
and throughout Yakima County; and
WHEREAS, Yakima County has already experienced two mas-
sive range fires which consumed over 20,000 acres and de-
stroyed homes, farm buildings, and crop lands in Rattlesnake
Hills and White Swan areas and which severely strained the
fire fighting resources of county governments in the Yakima
Indian Nation; and
WHEREAS, fireworks have traditionally caused a large
number of fires in the City of Yakima during the Fourth of
July holiday season; and
WHEREAS, given current conditions, the danger of
firework- caused fires will be especially high during the 1992
Fourth of July celebration; and
WHEREAS, the State of Washington Department of Community
Development Fire Protection Services Division has required
county commissioners statewide to consider limiting or banning
fireworks during the 1992 Fourth of July season; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Yakima County Commissioners along
with representatives of the Yakima Indian Nation Tribal Coun-
cil, and representatives of the City of Yakima and other
cities, towns, and fire districts throughout Yakima County met
on June 12, 1992 and agreed on the need for joint action to
limit the sale and discharge of fireworks during the 1992
season in light of the extreme fire danger; now, therefore,
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BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Yakima as follows:
Findings of Fact.
1. The City Council of the City of Yakima finds that dry
conditions have created an extreme fire danger in the City of
Yakima as evidenced by recent range fires.
2. In light of the extreme fire danger, there is a need
to further restrict the sale of fireworks during the 1992
Fourth of July holiday season and such restrictions have been
demonstrated effective in reducing fireworks fires.
3. The City Council of the City of Yakima declares an
emergency due to the severe drought conditions and extreme
fire danger in the City of Yakima and Yakima County.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Subsection 10.15.060A of the City of Yakima
Municipal Code shall be amended to read as follows:
"10.1 Sale and discharge of
fireworks. A. Except as permitted
by this chapter and state law, it is
lir
unlawful to possess, discharge or
sell at wholesale or retail of any
fireworks other than common fire-
works. No common fireworks shall be
sold or offered for sale at retail
within the City of Yakima except
from twelve noon on the twenty -
eighth day of June to eleven p.m. on
the fourth day of July of each year;
provided, however, that toy pistols,
toy canes, toy guns or other similar
devices, in which paper caps con-
taining not more than twenty -five
hundredths grain of explosive com-
pound for each cap used, may be sold
at all times. Provided, further,
that for the year 1992, no common
fireworks shall be sold or offered
for sale at retail within the City
of Yakima except from twelve noon on
the thirtieth day of June to eleven
p.m. on the fourth day of July. No
person shall sell any common fire-
works to a consumer or user thereof
under the age of sixteen years and
other than at a fixed place of 4110
business or a retailer for which a
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permit has been issued. The trans-
fer of fireworks ownership, whether
by sale at wholesale or retail, by
gift or by other means of conveyance
of title, or the delivery of any
fireworks to any person who does not
possess a valid permit at the time
of such transfer where a permit is
required by the chapter, is prohib-
ited. No common fireworks may be
sold or discharged between the hours
of eleven p.m. and nine a.m."
Section 2. This ordinance is one to provide for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health
or safety. It shall be effective upon passage and publica-
tion.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this
W day of , 1992.
Mayor
ATTEST
K ah-e--, �
City Clerk
Publication Date: CA
Effective Date: (P�����
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