Fireworks legal in Kennewick for 1st time in 31 years. Here’s where to buy, what kinds
Fourth of July fireworks can be purchased in Kennewick and set off to celebrate the holiday for the first time in more than 30 years.
In 2022 the Kennewick City Council lifted its ban on fireworks, but too late for July 4 that year.
A Washington state law prohibited the new ordinance, approved June 21, 2022, from taking effect for one year.
The last Independence Day that personal fireworks were legal in the city was 1991, the year that fireworks were believed to have caused $608,000 damage to the Knolls apartment complex on Grand Ronde Ave. in Kennewick, prompting the city to adopt the strictest fireworks regulations in the Tri-Cities.
With fireworks newly legal, the city has had interest from sellers.
They can be sold starting at noon Wednesday June 28 through July 5, in hours set by Washington state law.
The city has issued permits to sell fireworks at stands in the parking lots at these locations:
▪ Yokes – 1410 West 27th Avenue
▪ Fred Meyer – 2811 West 10th Avenue
▪ WalMart – 2720 South Quillan Street
▪ Safeway – 5204 West Clearwater Avenue
▪ Ranch & Home – 845 North Columbia Center Boulevard
▪ Red Apple – 902 South Washington Street
Kennewick’s new regulations copy those of Richland, which allow some fireworks, but not all of those allowed under Washington state law.
Pasco and Benton County also limit the type of fireworks allowed. Franklin County, Prosser and Connell ban them. West Richland allows any fireworks that are legal in the state of Washington.
Counties and cities that allow fireworks are limited by state law, which restricts hours when they may be discharged. They may be set off noon to 11 p.m. Wednesday 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 11 p.m. July 5.
Here’s what’s legal in Kennewick:
▪ Cylindrical fountains
▪ Cone fountains
▪ Parachutes
▪ Wheels
▪ Wire sparkler/dipped sticks
▪ Illuminated torch
▪ Ground and hand-held sparkling devices
▪ Novelties
Fireworks that remain illegal include helicopter or aerial spinners, mines or shells, ground spinners, roman candles, toy smoke devices, jumping jacks, combination items and special effects.
A full list of allowed fireworks and those that are still illegal to set off in Kennewick is posted at bit.ly/LegalKennewickFireworks.
People who set off illegal fireworks could face a fine of $250.
The council voted to lift the ban on fireworks last year, with several members saying that fireworks are an integral part of traditional celebrations of the nation’s independence.
City residents should be able to celebrate July 4 by setting off limited fireworks at family celebrations and block parties, they said.
Mayor Bill McKay said that legalizing some fireworks might deter people who now go to tribal reservations or order online to obtain aerial fireworks. Those have been primarily responsible for fires attributed to fireworks in Kennewick in recent years.
