JULY 2021
Does your memory include 4th of July events as a kid? Parades, picnics, and, yes, setting off fireworks. The world has moved on and one casualty because of the awful risks involved, are setting off your own fireworks.
Avoid fireworks
July 4 is historically the busiest day of the year for Portland Fire & Rescue because people blow stuff up and accidentally light other things on fire, including themselves. Plus the noise of explosions is very problematic for pets, people with PTSD, third-shifters, and all of us who will be just plain exhausted from the heat wave. Please, please, do not use fireworks, and politely discourage others from doing so. And for goodness sake, don’t buy the bombs they hawk in Vancouver and bring them back (illegally) to Portland.
- Oregon law bans possession, use, or sale of any fireworks that fly, explode, or travel more than one foot into the air or more than six feet on the ground. These fireworks are illegal.
- Portland’s firework ban: As many of you already know, Portland has officially banned fireworks until July 14. NETs are not trained, qualified, or able to enforce the ban.
- In a life/health safety emergency call 911.
In neighborhoods where you can find a view to the east, you can see multiple simultaneous fireworks displays being set off near dusk and later.