Kiwanis continue with plans for fireworks stands, no aerial effects to be sold in Snoqualmie
Published 8:30 am Friday, April 15, 2016
Selling fireworks as a form of fund raising has been a yearly tradition for the Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis Club, however a new law will prevent them from selling aerial fireworks in Snoqualmie this year.
The Snoqualmie City Council voted unanimously last year, Feb. 9, to ban aerial fireworks. This amendment to the city code was initially sparked by a house fire that was caused by an aerial firework on Snoqualmie Ridge on July 4, 2014. The damages from the fire were estimated to have been up to $700,000 and 35 firefighters from both the Snoqualmie Fire Department and Eastside Fire and Rescue responded to the incident.
The aerial fireworks ban went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Now the city fireworks ordinance allows only ground-effect fireworks on July 4 and Dec. 31.
At the Kiwanis Club meeting on Thursday, March 31, the club decided to again set up fireworks stands at the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Eastside Campus and in downtown North Bend. The hospital campus was chosen because it is in King County and not within Snoqualmie city limits. Despite that, the stand will sell only fireworks that comply with Snoqualmie’s regulations.
The North Bend stand will sell aerial fireworks as they still comply with North Bend and King County laws.
At the April 11 Snoqualmie city council meeting, a fireworks stand permit for the Kiwanis Club was approved despite no plans for a stand within city limits. Carlos DeImus, president of the Kiwanis Club, told the council the stand will have signage explaining Snoqualmie’s new law.
The funds generated by these stands are used to support Snoqualmie Valley organizations. In 2015, the Kiwanis Club provided $50 awards for fifth grade essay contest winners, financially supported Mount Si Key Club members to go to a leadership training convention, organized the Giving Tree program and provided more than $4,500 in scholarships to students at Mount Si High School.
