Churches' fireworks fundraiser underway

RITZVILLE – Local churches are offering noisemakers, rockets, smoking snakes and sparklers to Fourth of July revelers.

As in prior years, Ritzville Foursquare Church and Lind Calvary Assembly of God plan to jointly staff a discount fireworks trailer near the Interstate 90-Division Street interchange.

Fireworks sales will run from June 28 through July 4, while supplies last.

State law allows for fireworks sales from noon to 11 p.m. June 28, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29-July 4 and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 5.

Fireworks can be discharged from noon to 11 p.m. June 28, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 to July 3, 9 a.m. to midnight July 4 and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 5.

Last year, Foursquare Church contracted with fireworks distributor Discount Fireworks, operating as J&M, LLC. The company provides more than 50 different fireworks booths around Eastern Washington, including booths in Airway Heights, Moses Lake and Warden.

Customers will climb a few steps to place their orders at the 33-foot-long trailer.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used, in part, to subsidize local youth attendance at church camps. Some youngsters - under the supervision of adults - will also staff the booth.

What’s legal

Ritzville — Under the city’s fireworks ordinances (Ord. 2155 §1, 2021; Ord. 488 §2, 1962), “It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, possess, use or explode any dangerous fireworks within the city of Ritzville.”

As defined by state law, “dangerous” fireworks differ from “common” or “consumer” fireworks. Consumer fireworks may include small devices “designed to produce visible effects by combustion.” These devices are required to comply with the construction, chemical composition, and labeling regulations of the United States consumer product safety commission” (RCW 70.77.136).

The “consumer” definition also includes small devices designed to produce audible effects, such as whistling devices and ground devices containing 50 mg or less of explosive materials.

The city ordinance further states that the fire chief, or his duly authorized representative, may prohibit the discharge of all fireworks during periods of extreme fire danger.