Tacoma firefighters respond to dozens of fireworks-related calls despite city ban

TACOMA -- The Fourth of July celebrations ended days ago, but community advocates in Tacoma claim fireworks can still be heard going off in neighborhoods.

They say what’s concerning is that fireworks are banned in Tacoma, yet they are the cause behind of dozens of fires this week.

Walking around Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, residents pointed to debris left behind from fireworks. Residents here are fed up by the trash and that the fire danger.

“From mid-June to mid-July it has been absolute Armageddon with explosions, fireworks, noise, and fires,” said neighborhood advocate Lisa Lawrence.

Despite a fireworks ban in the city limits, the Tacoma Fire Department said between June 26 and July 6, firefighters responded to nearly 300 fires and more than 50 of them were fireworks-related, including one at a Tacoma community garden.

Lawrence and other neighbors are suggesting the city do more to publicize the fireworks ban. They want more enforcement, and even a border checkpoint after people buy fireworks from neighboring towns without a ban. They’re ideas they plan to present to the City Council.

“There just aren’t enough people to enforce the ban and it’s just not publicized,” said Lawrence. “People moving here would have no idea there was a ban.”

Tacoma Police say the department is doing what it can.  This year seven officers formed a fireworks enforcement team just to respond to firework-related calls.

But Lawrence argues it hasn’t been enough, which is why she’s demanding the city do more.

“I’m terrified to be in my home, and I’m terrified to leave my home,” said Lawrence.

Tacoma Police said a full report on how many fireworks calls it received and how many the team responded to should be available in the next week.