With the Whatcom County Council weighing fireworks restrictions in Birch Bay and a record cleanup of trash after the Fourth of July, a community advisory committee is seeking input on possible regulations.
The Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee is inviting the community to provide feedback at its upcoming meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, to discuss firework regulations for the public in Birch Bay.
The Whatcom County Council is considering changing firework regulations, including potentially reducing the days in July when people can set off fireworks and prohibiting fireworks to be used within 100 feet of any buildings. A decision would affect Birch Bay and other unincorporated parts of the county.
“Whether you support, oppose or have concerns about the proposed changes, we want to hear from you,” read an Aug. 27 Facebook post by BBCAC. “We are particularly interested in hearing from local business and property owners about how fireworks impact the Birch Bay community, both positively and negatively.”
Birch Bay follows unincorporated Whatcom County fireworks regulations, meaning that, for now, it is legal for fireworks to be set off July 3 from 6 to 11 p.m.; July 4 from 6 p.m. to midnight; and July 5 from 6 to 11 p.m.
Birch Bay Beach Park has become a popular spot for locals to shoot off their own fireworks, but a growing amount of trash is left behind each year. On July 5, volunteers removed 8.12 tons of trash from the beach, a record amount. It’s a record the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce would rather do without.
Additionally, some Birch Bay residents and business owners at the Aug. 19 BBCAC meeting said this past Fourth of July was particularly chaotic, with reports of underage drinking and fireworks being set off close to buildings.
The County Council will make final decisions about firework regulations but the Birch Bay committee will provide recommendations for consideration.
Any changes made would not go into effect until a year later, meaning no decision will affect next year’s Fourth of July celebrations.
The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 4460 Bay Road. The meeting will not be recorded or available online; those unable to attend in person may submit comments to bbcac@whatcomcounty.us.
