With Independence Day coming soon, residents are reminded that legal fireworks can only be discharged in University Place on July 4 from 9 a.m. to midnight. Only hand-held and groundbased sparking devices which are non-aerial and non-explosive are legal for discharge in U.P. These are:
- Fountains – A ground device that emits showers of sparks several feet in the air.
- Cones – A type of fountain in the shape of a cone.
- Novelties – Fireworks such as snaps, snakes, poppers; they can shoot white smoke or even multi-color parachutes.
- Smokes – Any item that produces a smoke effect, including smoke balls and aerial items that produce smoke instead of light or noise; smoke items are generally used during the daytime.
- Sparklers/Morning Glories – A handheld stick with a coating of pyrotechnic composition that creates sparks when lit; Morning Glory sparklers are a larger thin cardboard tube filled with powder.
Residents who wish to report a violation of U.P.’s fireworks regulations should go to www.fireworksreport.com. The site will be live to take fireworks complaints from 6 a.m. on June 28 through 6 a.m. on July 5. Call 911 if there’s a medical emergency, injury or active fire. Any complaints before June 28 at 6 a.m. or after July 5 at 6 a.m. should be directed to the non-emergency line 253.287.4455.
As a reminder, violating the University Place fireworks law could lead to a $250 fine, plus fees, costs and assessments.
