Fire Commissioners Special Meeting October 10, 2016

SKAGIT COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT 17

(Minutes pending approval)

October 10, 2016

Commissioner Chip Bogosian, Chairman, called the Special Meeting to discuss fireworks to order at 6:03 PM.

Present: Commissioners Bogosian, Murphy and Margeson, Chief G. Francis, Assistant Chief O. Snell, PIO L. Francis and Secretary D.Murray. Community members present: Edith Walden, Frank Crawford. Juby Fouts, Leota Price, Bob Stickrod, Carol and Howard Pellett.

GIPOA president Howard Pellett began by distributing a letter entitled Education not Enforcement that proposes a partnership between GIPOA and the Guemes Island Fire Department (GIFD). In part, the letter says we would “seek to cooperatively educate our island neighbors concerning the desirability of eliminating the trafficking of illegal fireworks on Guemes Island.” A copy of the letter is attached.

Secretary’s note: there was lively discussion with people sometimes speaking at the same time. What follows is my attempt to capture the essence of dialogue. For simplicity, only first names are used. I apologize if anyone is misquoted or left out.

Frank: In 4 years of living on Guemes, the noise level during 2016 was the loudest ever, with windows shaking from the exploding fireworks. Other community members agreed.

Juby: Yard signs have helped [reduce fireworks usage] as well as neighbors simply talking to one another. Peer pressure seems most effective.

Frank: Visitors and their guests tend to be the worst offenders. He has witnessed people coming across the ferry with wheelbarrows full of fireworks. When he talked to people who had a lot of fireworks, they said they were planning to fire them either on North Beach or on South Shore “depending on the wind direction.” The party in question had spent hundreds of dollars on fireworks and they were planning to shoot off fireworks where they did not own property.

Juby: What if neighbors (or a group of neighbors) take cameras or smart phones to the scene where people are using illegal fireworks and take photos?

Carol to Dave: How do you feel about (fireworks)?

Dave: They are illegal so he is opposed. He has a family member who is no longer invited to their beach home because he brought fireworks and insisted on lighting them.

Tom: It’s impossible to eliminate them completely. He feels nervous about neighbors confronting neighbors, especially because alcohol is frequently a factor on Fourth of July. Any time there is alcohol there is danger of tempers flaring. He felt it would be better to post big signs around Guemes with a message that islanders are encouraged to call 9-1-1 when they see illegal fireworks being used. He will talk to Ferry Manager Rachel Rowe and ask whether fireworks are considered hazardous cargo since they are explosive. Would ferry crew be reluctant to confront riders with fireworks? Do they need training?

Frank: Saw a passenger carry a propane tank onto the ferry. When he complained, a crewmember talked to the passenger who then loaded the tank into the back seat of a closed vehicle and sat next to it!

Juby: Recommended that we put our GIFD logo on whatever “no fireworks” signs are created. Make them big, colorful and eye-catching signs. Two members of GIPOA (Leota and Bob) with homes in highly visible areas have agreed to place such signs on their property near Fourth of July.

Howard: Had suggestions on signage urging people to be good citizens and not use illegal fireworks. He is in favor of educating the public and wants GIFD to partner with GIPOA by being active, advertising, doing our best.

Tom: Recommended the signs be placed at strategic locations where fireworks are frequently used.

Chip: Asked what we can do to educate the public. Post catchy signs?

Dave: Discouraging fireworks is to the benefit of GIFD because we don’t have to worry about live fires caused by fireworks. He recommended we develop a program educating the public about the Wildland/Urban Interface and its connection to fireworks. He suggested that Memorial Day might be a good time to do it and show videos of W/UI fires. Put up a banner with a message, “GIFD asks you not to use fireworks on Guemes.” He noted that enforcement is fine but education is better.

Chip: Some people seem to think that Guemes is a place where they can do anything…do whatever they want. He asked if anything happened to the three men responsible for the Cooks Cove fire.

Edith: No, nothing happened. That is because a fireworks violation is a misdemeanor and to enforce that law the police or sheriff must witness the event.

Dave: The ferry is our first line of defense. Can the ferry workers be asked to stop fireworks coming onto Guemes in the first place? Even if violators succeed in hiding their fireworks and getting them onto Guemes, it raises awareness and lets people know that islanders care, they are watching, and they will call 9-1-1.

Juby: Banners can be created online using dramatic images. They are not too expensive and can be done quickly.

Howard: In a prior year, he sent a letter to a neighbor who heavily used fireworks, advising him that it was illegal and dangerous. This year that same neighbor did not use fireworks – so education works.

Dave: We should have six prominent signs.

Tom: GIFD should be part of the signs. “GIFD asks you not to use fireworks,” or words to that effect.

Howard: GIPOA wants to help and is willing to contribute funding.

Gerry: Burn ban signs get noticed and are effective.

Edith: Would signs be put up only near the Fourth of July (so they don’t become invisible with frequent viewing)?

All: Yes, everyone agreed the signs should be put up only for a short time.

Juby: A good spot for signs is that place on the ferry dock advising people to wait to start their car until directed by crew. Would the county allow us to temporarily place signs in those locations?

Chip: Pictures are more effective than words.

Edith: There are also a lot of fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Dave: We’re in agreement that we should have a Memorial Day activity. That would be a good time to have an awareness event. He asked how many households belong to GIPOA.

Howard: 85 families (which is 15-20% of households on Guemes).

Chip: GIFD & GIPOA are in agreement. Who makes the banner(s)? We need a professional.

Juby: We could have a design contest and choose a winner.

Carol: Determine what goes on the sign for consistency.

Edith: The sign needs to look professional.

Chip: We will begin inquiries about design.

Tom: Commissioners should send a formal request for permission to put up a sign at the ferry. Tom will draft a letter and Diane will print it on GIFD letterhead. All Commissioners will sign the letter and mail it to Mr. Berentsen. Also, he will talk to Rachel asking whether fireworks are considered hazardous cargo.

Dave: Revisit the subject at the November regular meeting.

Dave & Juby will search for graphic images for signs.

Tom: Can GIPOA members pass out flyers near Fourth of July asking people not to use fireworks. “Please help us…”

Tom: We will discuss the subject again in November. Tom thanked Howard for bringing this to public attention and offering GIPOA assistance.

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.

Submitted by

Diane Murray, Secretary

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Skagit County Fire District 17

Commissioner Chip Bogosian, Chairman

GIPOA Letter to Commissioners