37 fireworks-related emergencies reported in Snohomish County
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- Some local residents are calling for stricter rules on fireworks after the Fourth of July celebrations left several homes destroyed.
On Saturday firefighters responded to 37 different reports of fireworks-related emergencies, which yielded more than $1 million in damages.
Jim Flannigin's Everett home was the first to go after some type of firework landed on his roof.
"To sit and watch 20-foot flames off the top of your house -- I lost it a couple times," he said.
Just minutes later, fireworks lit up two more homes, gutting them.
"It's discouraging and every year we see this happen," said Leslie Hynes of the Snohomish County Fire Department.
And then there's the issue of leftover fireworks stacked outside public places. Last year the sheriff vowed it would never happen again.
But there were still plenty of leftover fireworks to be found in the streets this year. So KOMO News asked Fire Marshal Gary Bontrager whether it was time for the county to toughen up on fireworks.
"We need to look at that and identify the actual cause of these fires," he said.
In other words, it's one thing if the fireworks that caused all this damage were purchased in the county. It's another if they were purchased somewhere else, Boom City on the Tulalip Indian Reservation.
Many of the fireworks sold are illegal in Snohomish County, but there is no way to regulate them. That being said, Snohomish fire officials said none of their emergency calls came from Mountlake Terrace, where all fireworks are banned.
"We are concerned about this and we are looking at it," Bontrager said.
On Saturday firefighters responded to 37 different reports of fireworks-related emergencies, which yielded more than $1 million in damages.
Jim Flannigin's Everett home was the first to go after some type of firework landed on his roof.
"To sit and watch 20-foot flames off the top of your house -- I lost it a couple times," he said.
Just minutes later, fireworks lit up two more homes, gutting them.
"It's discouraging and every year we see this happen," said Leslie Hynes of the Snohomish County Fire Department.
And then there's the issue of leftover fireworks stacked outside public places. Last year the sheriff vowed it would never happen again.
But there were still plenty of leftover fireworks to be found in the streets this year. So KOMO News asked Fire Marshal Gary Bontrager whether it was time for the county to toughen up on fireworks.
"We need to look at that and identify the actual cause of these fires," he said.
In other words, it's one thing if the fireworks that caused all this damage were purchased in the county. It's another if they were purchased somewhere else, Boom City on the Tulalip Indian Reservation.
Many of the fireworks sold are illegal in Snohomish County, but there is no way to regulate them. That being said, Snohomish fire officials said none of their emergency calls came from Mountlake Terrace, where all fireworks are banned.
"We are concerned about this and we are looking at it," Bontrager said.