Many people living in areas ravaged by last year’s wildfires have expressed concern over fireworks sales this upcoming Fourth of July. The city of Talent is still recovering from the decimation of last year’s Almeda Fire. Wednesday night, the city council approved a ban on sales and use of fireworks.
The decision came just hours after Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared a state of emergency. She cited extreme drought and record-setting temperatures as posing a major risk of wildfire.
Ryan Mallory and his family live in Talent. He says current conditions are too dangerous to permit anything that could set off a spark.
“I’m not interested in setting off fireworks this year, and I’m a fireworks fan," said Mallory. "I don’t want my neighbor's houses on fire.”
Mallory says that although he agrees fireworks shouldn’t be permitted this year, he isn’t a fan of a long-term ban.
Talent resident David Spinney was another survivor of the Almeda Fire, which he says was traumatic for everyone. Even though he and his family didn’t lose their home, he’s afraid it might happen again.
“We were blessed to be spared from the Almeda Fire and would like to not risk another fire roaring through town,” said Spinney.
City council voted in unanimous support of the ban, which goes into effect immediately. Fines for violating the code will range anywhere from five-hundred to one-thousand dollars.
In the last few days, cities from Portland to Yreka have passed similar bans.
