'No fireworks - period'

The Flathead County commissioners on Thursday morning unanimously voted to ban the use of fireworks throughout the county on both public and private land outside city limits, effective immediately.

The ban includes several planned fireworks displays, such as those on Flathead Lake at Lakeside, Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork and a popular private fireworks show at Eddie DeBartolo’s Candy Bar Ranch near Whitefish.

Fireworks shows planned at Raceway Park north of Kalispell in conjunction with the Monster Truck Show also will not be allowed.

“It’s an emergency. I think we have to say no fireworks — period,” Commissioner Gary Krueger said. “This is a complete ban.”

Fellow commissioners Pam Holmquist and Phil Mitchell agreed.

“We’re late on this and we need to do it,” Mitchell said via speaker phone because he is out of town.

The city of Whitefish’s annual fireworks display over Whitefish Lake also was canceled Thursday afternoon by Whitefish Interim Fire Chief Joe Page.

“The latest forecast is for a front to move through the evening of the Fourth with winds up to 25 mph which are above the 15- to 20-mph threshold I set,” Page said. “Our fuels are already setting records for this time of year and are ready to burn. Based on our current fire conditions and the predicted weather I’m going to ban this year’s fireworks display at Whitefish City Beach.”

The fireworks prohibitions were prompted by extremely dry conditions and a relentless, record-setting heat wave.

The use of any fireworks is banned in the county until further notice.

The 911 Emergency Dispatch Center has set up a non-emergency phone number to call to report fireworks violators. Call 260-4161 instead of dialing 911; the number feeds into the dispatch center.

State Rep. Ed Lieser, D-Whitefish, was among citizens urging the commissioners to support a ban on the use of fireworks during a public-comment session that preceded Thursday’s vote. Lieser, retired from 30 years with the U.S. Forest Service, is a wildland firefighter for national incident management teams and an experienced fire fuel analyst.

“All indications are that we are at historic conditions,” Lieser told the commissioners. “We’re in a very serious condition and [the ban] is the prudent thing to do.

Krueger took the opportunity to question Lieser, asking whether any fireworks should be allowed on the Fourth of July if the forecast for winds up to 25 miles per hour holds true.

“The sustained wind is what’s most concerning,” Lieser said.

Mark Paulson, a professional fireworks technician, urged the council to give special dispensation for the shows planned Friday and Saturday nights at Raceway Park. He said his shows would have their own fire suppression equipment onsite.

“If there is wind over 10 miles an hour, I won’t do a show,” Paulson said.

Krueger, who has a wheat field and other farmland near the race track, grilled Paulson about the size of the fireworks shells and how big a radius any sparks would encompass. While Paulson said he believes the show could be conducted safely in an asphalt area, Krueger disagreed, saying, “I don’t believe the neighbors would view it as a safe perimeter.”

Krueger likewise questioned Flathead County Fire Service Area Manager Lincoln Chute.

“Is there any place in Flathead County that’s safe” to use fireworks? Krueger asked.

Chute answered, “I don’t believe it’s safe. I’d recommend a unilateral ban.”

There was discussion about how to nullify any permits already issued, such as the DeBartolo display near Whitefish. County Deputy Attorney Tara Fugina first advised they’d have to meet with permit holders before taking action, noting the time constraint because county offices are closed Friday for the holiday.

Instead, the commissioners amended their resolution, taking out language that exempted previously permitted shows.

Page said the Whitefish Fire Service Area issued the permit to DeBartolo, with the stipulation the service area can cancel the permit at any time for emergency situations.

The Iron Horse subdivision on wooded Big Mountain also had a permit for a private show, but the Whitefish City Council opted to cancel that permit on Wednesday, Page said.

The county resolution prohibits campfires unless they are on private property with a fire ring and no bigger than three feet wide or high.

Smoking also is banned except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material.

In a related action, Flathead County has shut down all roadside ditch mowing until there is some precipitation, county Weed Department Director Jed Fisher said.

The cities of Kalispell and Columbia Falls already have ordinances banning fireworks inside city limits. The Whitefish City Council voted Wednesday to ban fireworks.

Lake, Lincoln and Missoula counties also have banned the use of fireworks. However, public displays in the cities of Polson and Troy are still scheduled at dusk on Saturday.

A fireworks show at the Yaak River Tavern in Lincoln County has been canceled.

“I understand it. I don’t want to take the chance of lighting anything on fire. I am disappointed. We’ve got a lot of money invested into the weekend’s events, but I’d rather not take the chance of causing a fire,” Gwen Allen, owner of the Yaak River Tavern, told the Western News.

All Northwest Montana counties entered Stage 1 fire restrictions at midnight Thursday, with an increase to “very high” fire danger in Flathead County.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.