County's fuse will be short with illegal fireworks

Concerned about public safety, potential fires and complaints from residents, Yakima County authorities are cracking down on illegal use of fireworks on parts of the Yakama reservation.

But county authorities say they won't be enforcing any bans on tribal land, where tribal members are allowed to sell fireworks.

The 1.2 million-acre reservation is a checkerboard of tribal land and county and private property. In past years, the public has enjoyed buying fireworks from tribal stands on the reservation and discharging them nearby.

But growing complaints from residents about trespassing, littering and traffic congestion on the northern edge of the reservation along Ahtanum Road has authorities clamping down this year, and they plan to issue $250 fines for each offense.

Now, Yakima County Sheriff's deputies say only tribal members can legally possess and discharge fireworks on tribal land.

Yakima County Sheriff Sgt. Bob Udell said the possession of fireworks in Yakima County is a criminal offense, and county authorities have jurisdiction over non-Indians committing such offenses on the reservation.

Still, Udell said his office won't cite anyone buying or discharging fireworks on tribal land during this Fourth of July weekend.

"It's not necessarily legal for nontribal members to use fireworks there, but we're not going to invade (tribal land)," he said.

Udell said he's more interested in enforcing the fireworks ban on public property or property owned by non-
Indians on the reservation.

Last year, crowds of people discharged fireworks along county roads near the fireworks stands off Ahtanum Road and 16th Avenue. Technically, they were on the reservation.

This year, Udell said, he and his deputies will focus on an area along Ahtanum Road spanning from Goodman Road to South 62nd Avenue, issuing citations if they see it happening again.

"We're going to stop the rampant use of this roadway for fireworks," Udell said. "Last year, I had fireworks bouncing off the roof of my (squad) car."

Signs posted near fireworks stands off Ahtanum and Goodman roads in Union Gap are a reminder that it's legal only for tribal members to buy fireworks on the reservation.

Some firework stand operators said the signs may be thwarting business and accuse Yakima County of trying to assert its jurisdiction on tribal land.

Tribal member Jacqueline Olney, who owns a fireworks stand along Goodman Road, said business has been slow, but on Wednesday it began picking up.

She said she's been allowing people to buy and discharge fireworks on her 2 acres of tribal land during the past 12 years. Two of her neighbors have 120 acres, some of which they open up to the public to discharge fireworks, too.

Olney said she doesn't understand why the county erected the signs when it lacks jurisdiction on tribal land.

"I think it's more of an attack at the Yakama Nation, and not fireworks," she said. "It's chipping away at the sovereignty of the Yakama Nation."

Fireworks stand owner Robert Haggerty said many non-Indian customers are now questioning what they can actually buy.

"People are still buying the small stuff, but the bigger stuff, people are actually afraid," he said.

Calls to tribal leaders were not immediately returned Wednesday night.

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