By Debra Vaughn

Staff Reporter

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.

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.

“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 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. 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. only on the Fourth.