Brewster will consider revision of fireworks in city code

Councilmember John Housden favors revision of fireworks use.

MIKE MALTAIS/WARD MEDIA

BREWSTER – The city council has agreed to look into a revision of the city fireworks code that would reduce fire risk but still allow a limited window twice a year to enjoy them.

Under Section 8.06.150, Chapter 8.06 of Title 8 Health and Safety of the present Brewster Municipal Code (BMC):

No person shall use or explode any fireworks within the town except from twelve o’clock noon on the twenty eighth day of June to twelve o’clock noon on the fifth day of July of any year…

“There’s an eight-day period when you can shoot off fireworks,” said Housden of the current BMC. “There’s no regulation on it. If you have people shooting off fireworks in the middle of a heat wave…to me, that’s not really befitting in what you would call enjoying a fireworks show.”

“There’s a middle of the road kind of thing that makes sense that we could do,” said councilmember John Housman. He has been looking at how other communities are handling the issue. 

“The city of Walla Walla changed their municipal code to allow the discharge of fireworks on the Fourth of July from 9 a.m. to midnight and on New Year’s Eve from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.,” said Housman. “Shortening up the time frame that they can shoot fireworks off without banning them…is a very, very common-sense approach to what’s going on.”

The city attorney reminded the council that they could direct her office to work on the revision but not enact anything at that time. If the council passes the revision this year it will not affect fireworks use next year but will in 2026. The council voted to proceed with a draft of the ordinance revision.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media