DAYTON—Fireworks have been an issue for city and county officials as fire conditions continued to worsen in Walla Walla and Columbia Counties. Columbia County Commissioners held a public hearing on Tuesday, September 7, to discuss an ordinance to allow the county to impose emergency bans on fireworks should local fire conditions warrant it.

Currently, Columbia County and the City of Dayton cannot impose a ban on firework sales and use, even if there is immediate fire risk due to drought or surrounding fires. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) specifies the times fireworks can be sold a...