The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Fire Marshal are warning people about illegal fireworks over the Fourth of July holiday – and offering advice on what’s legal, illegal and safe.
The use of fireworks is prohibited on all national forestland, in all Oregon state parks, and on all beaches.
The sheriff’s office is asking people to understand – and respect — the difference between a legal consumer firework and a dangerous explosive device.
Oregon law prohibits the possession, use, or sale of any firework that flies into the air, explodes, or travels more than 12 feet horizontally on the ground without a permit issued by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Fireworks commonly called bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers are illegal in Oregon, without a permit.
The sheriff’s non-emergency phone number is 541-265-0777; the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District phone number is 541-547-3266.
For the last five years through 2018, the state fire marshal said there were 1,264 reported fireworks-related fires in Oregon, resulting in more than $3.5 million in property damage. During that same period, fires resulting from fireworks resulted in one death and 26 injuries.
Items such as M-80s, M-100s and blockbusters are not fireworks, the sheriff’s office said, but are federally banned explosives. They can cause serious injury or even death.
Possession of illegal fireworks in Oregon is a Class B Misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and/or six months in jail.
Fireworks are not toys. Do not give fireworks to young children. Close adult supervision of all fireworks activities is mandatory. Even sparklers can be unsafe if used improperly.
Be sure that people maintain a safe distance from where fireworks are ignited. Never light and throw any fireworks. Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from buildings, dry leaves, and flammable materials. Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned. Keep a bucket of water handy in case of a malfunction or fire.
Fireworks may be illegal in all state parks and on the beaches but the message has been lost. We live adjacent to Tillicum Beach camp ground. NO ONE was enforcing the law re: fireworks this year. You could see fires and fireworks well past midnight up and down the beach. The sheriff,fire and forest departments need to send a stronger message to the public and hold the vacation rental agencies accountable for passing the law on to the campers and renters.This problem will continue to grow as vacationers continue to flock to the Oregon Coast. I like our big firework shows and I love celebrating the 4th in Yachats. I just don’t want an unfortunate accident or fire because someone wasn’t informed. By the time something like that happens it is too late to change the public behavior.
Same at Yachats. Big sign saying: No fireworks. But we got them all day July 3rd and 4th. They went on well after the official Yachatian presentation was over at 10:15 p.m. And overnight campers on the beach as well. I’ve lived here over a year now and have never seen a state police officer in the area. Beach was a mess this morning with fireworks debris. It will all end up in the ocean. Think state cops would drive through at least once during a “high” weekend. Laws are posted and the public is reminded. But signs and warnings do nothing to stop violations. And there were numerous violations here in Yachats. Why bother sending out warnings?