Fireworks bring ‘oohs’ and ‘aww darns’

And the rockets’ red glare … Opened by a number of illicit fireworks going off around Pinedale, the Pinedale Volunteer Fire Department’s Fourth of July fireworks display lit up the night – and nearby porches – on Monday evening.

Despite an ongoing ban on fireworks, the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received seven calls about fireworks over the Fourth of July weekend. One of the calls resulted in arrests, landing two Pinedale residents in jail temporarily.

Last July, the Sublette County Commissioners lifted a ban on fireworks throughout the county, but no resolution was drawn up, and it was discovered the commissioners don’t have the authority to change the legal status of fireworks without putting it to the voters on a primary or general election ballot, the next of which is August 2012.

Fireworks remain banned until then should the commissioners choose to submit the issue to a ballot or indefinitely should they choose not to.

Still, the County feared confusion remained, and the SCSO published an ad in last week’s Roundup reminding people fireworks remained illegal within the county’s jurisdiction. But beginning Friday night, the calls started coming in, peaking between 11 p.m. Sunday and 3 a.m. Monday, and as darkness fell Monday night, bursts of light and popping sounds could be heard in areas outside of Pinedale.

The fireworks the SCSO collected over the weekend will be sent along with other confiscated items to an incinerator in Rock Springs.

With bans in place in the county’s three municipalities as well, shooting off fireworks is illegal in all parts of Sublette County.

The initial County ban was put into place in 1988 after a summer of forest fires that lead to a death. The resolution prohibits the manufacture, sale and possession of fireworks except with a permit.

At the July 6, 2010 Sublette County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner John Linn suggested temporarily lifting the ban to permit the shooting of fireworks through Rendezvous Days last year.

The commissioners passed a motion allowing fireworks, but changing County ordinances requires a resolution, which was never drafted. At the time, the Sublette County Attorney’s Office was in a state of flux, and the resolution was overlooked. By the time the current County Attorney’s office was in place, it had been discovered such a change went beyond a resolution and required approval by voters.

At Tuesday’s commissioners meeting, Commissioner Andy Nelson suggested adding the issue to one of the special elections occurring this August, specifically the vote on whether to increase the number of commissioners to five, as that involves all county residents. If the repeal of the ban were to pass, it would be in effect for next year’s fireworks season, excluding New Year’s Eve.

In the meantime, fireworks remain illegal, as they have been for the past 23 years.



For the complete article see the 07-08-2011 issue.

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