Whitefish bans fireworks; Flathead County up next

During a special meeting Wednesday morning, the Whitefish City Council unanimously voted to ban the use of fireworks within city limits during the Fourth of July holiday.

The emergency vote comes in response to unusually high fire risks.

The city normally allows fireworks use during a short time window each year — July 3-4, between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m., but joined other jurisdictions including Lincoln County, Lake County and the Flathead Indian Reservation in determining the risk of wildfire starts was too high to permit private use this year.

The Flathead County commissioners will consider a countywide ban today at 9 a.m. Two of the three commissioners have stated they plan to vote to prohibit fireworks.

A press release from Whitefish City Manager Chuck Stearns stated that a public comment period before Wednesday’s vote included statements from citizens on both sides of the issue, and the council “had to balance the effect of the ban on private displays and private purchases of fireworks versus the high fire danger and public safety and health.”

The ban does not affect the annual community fireworks display over Whitefish Lake. It will  go ahead as planned at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Fireworks already are prohibited in Kalispell and Columbia Falls by city ordinances.

Reporter Samuel Wilson may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.