It’s hot and dry on Whidbey Island, so unseasonably Hades-like that the Island County fire marshal issued a countywide burn ban.

But there’s one thing he can’t place an emergency ban on, no matter how extreme the weather: fireworks.

That’s left some officials in Island County frustrated with their inability to stop revelers from lighting explosive devices during one of the driest seasons on record.

Island County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution last week to “encourage all within our jurisdiction to limit the discharge of personal fireworks to reduce fire danger on our islands.”

The resolution has no more authority than a strongly-worded finger wag.

“It seems crazy (the fire marshal) can restrict every other kind of burning and not fireworks,” said Commissioner Helen Price Johnson.

She’s pushing for the county to add a clause to the books that would give the fire marshal the ability to call for an emergency ban on fireworks use.

“We aren’t going to be able to take action this year,” she said. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to get tools in place for the future.”

State law allows local city and county governments to completely ban fireworks within their jurisdictions or add a clause allowing emergency bans — but only with a year advanced notice.

The only person with the authority to issue a statewide temporary emergency ban on the firework sales and use is Gov. Jay Inslee, according the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

After consulting with the state Attorney General’s office, the governor determined he doesn’t have the legal authority to initiate a statewide fireworks ban this year, said his spokeswoman, Jaime Smith.

The governor is asking residents to use extra caution because of extremely dry conditions and to forgo the use of personal fireworks, she said.

The burn ban in Island County, which took effect Monday, prohibits all open fires. It’s OK to use charcoal and gas grills.

Rules for when fireworks can be used varies by whether you live in the city or the county.

In Oak Harbor and in the county, it’s now OK to use legal fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. until the holiday, and on July 5.

On the Fourth, fireworks may be used 9 a.m. until midnight. In Coupeville, revelers may use fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Island County Sheriff Mark Brown serves as fire marshal for the county. He’s not sure this year if he would place an emergency ban on fireworks. He wouldn’t make that determination until consulting with all the fire chiefs in the county — the same protocol he uses before authorizing a burn ban.

“I think I would if I felt there were a real danger,” he said.

It makes sense to give the fire marshal that authority, he said. He’d like to have the ability to tailor a ban by area since conditions could vary between the northern tip of Camano Island and the southern tip of Whidbey.

Fireworks are a contentious issue locally.

Sale of fireworks is a crucial way for charities to raise thousands of dollars for scholarships and other good works in the community.

Brian Jones, president of the Rotary Club of Oak Harbor, said fireworks sales bring in around $6,000 for the organization. The money goes directly back into the community through scholarships and other programs.

In Oak Harbor in particular, fireworks are a longtime tradition for celebrating the Fourth of July. Many don’t like the noise and disruption that comes with it.

One writer suggested in a letter to the editor of the Whidbey News-Times that people set off fireworks in the open fields of schools, including at Crescent Harbor Elementary.

The letter prompted people to angrily call local schools to let officials know that they would not like fireworks lit near their neighborhood schools, said Kellie Tormey, Oak Harbor School District spokeswoman.

District officials reiterated that no fireworks are allowed on school property, she said.

The message from local fire chiefs is to use fireworks with common sense.

“The critical thing is people are careful and watch what they do,” said North Whidbey Fire and Rescue Chief Marv Koorn.

In the 37 years he’s served with the district, he can remember only a few instances where fireworks started fires. Only one of those resulted in a major fire that burned a 10-acre field.

“People are pretty good usually,” he said.

If you want to use fireworks, make sure you have a 5-gallon bucket of water or garden hose nearby, said Oak Harbor fire chief Ray Merrill. Avoid areas with uncut grass.

“A lot of it is just use common sense,” Merrill said.