People pick out fireworks at TNT Fireworks stand in Beaverton, Ore., Wednesday, July 3, 2019.
Cheyenne Thorpe / OPB
Hazardous dry weather and scorching temperatures have exposed the Northwest to significant fire danger as the region heads into the worst of fire season.
Those conditions have led Portland, Bend and many other local jurisdictions to ban the use of fireworks ahead of the Independence Day weekend. While fireworks are a holiday tradition, local leaders have said they fear even small fireworks could create significant danger and lead to a repeat of the 2017 Eagle Creek fire, which scorched the Columbia River Gorge. And in a worst-case scenario, government officials said they wanted to avoid a repeat of the 2020 fire season, which burned a record 1.1 million acres.
Still, other local jurisdictions are allowing fireworks while cautioning residents to be mindful of where they are used.
Top fire officials asked all Oregonians on Thursday to be mindful of the extreme fire danger across the state. They said if people do light fireworks for the holiday, they should avoid doing so near grass or other materials that could ignite easily, and that all fireworks should be dunked in a bucket of water after use. People should also have a charged hose nearby.
OPB has compiled a list of fireworks restrictions across the state and in Southwest Washington to help local residents quickly find bans that may be in place. In addition to local bans, fireworks are illegal on all Oregon Department of Forestry protected land during fire season.
Don’t see your town or county’s restrictions on this map? Email rhaas@opb.org or kfreda@opb.org and let us know.
