Petition calls for Ducey to temporarily ban fireworks amid wildfire season
Jun 26, 2020, 4:35 AM
(Getty Images/Ore Huiying)
(Getty Images/Ore Huiying)
PHOENIX — As Arizona continues to endure a devastating wildfire season, concerned residents are calling on Gov. Doug Ducey to temporarily ban fireworks sales ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
One day after being forced to evacuate her home due to the Aquila Fire in north Phoenix near the I-17 and Carefree highway, Delanie Thompson created an online petition demanding action from the Republican governor.
In less than 24 hours, the online petition collected over 3,400 signatures.
“I started this because I was so amped, upset, and emotional – seeing my neighbor’s house almost go up in flames was traumatizing,” Thompson told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.
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“Our community came together that day.”
Thompson is planning to send the petition to Ducey next week.
One signature was from Cave Creek resident Anna Shaffer. She left a comment stating: “This fire season has been absolutely devastating! I love fireworks, watching and playing with small ones, but it’s not worth our homes and lives!”
Flagstaff resident Amy Townsley added, “The brief pleasure of fireworks is not worth it this summer given the number of fires we’ve sustained already. No fireworks, please!”
According to the city of Phoenix, current state law regulates “when permissible fireworks can be bought, sold and used in Arizona.”
“The law does not apply to novelty items: snappers, snap caps, glow worms, snakes, party poppers, toy smoke devices and sparklers.”
The sale of permissible consumer fireworks is permitted from May 20 until July 6 and again and from Dec. 10 to Jan. 3.
The use of permissible consumer fireworks is allowed from June 24 to July 6 and again from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3.
Additional restrictions can be implemented if a federal or state agency implements Stage 1 fire restrictions.
