Coeur d'Alene may consider fireworks zones

The amount of fireworks going off throughout Coeur d’Alene around and during two key holidays is getting “ridiculous,” said Councilor Christie Wood. So, she would like the city to consider calming things down. 

“If we could explore maybe a designated area in the city for families to bring children to light off legal fireworks, twice a year, Jan. 1 and Fourth of July, just maybe that would curb some of it in the neighborhoods,” she said Thursday. “That way, everybody wins.” 

She asked that the topic of voluntary fireworks zones be placed on a future City Council agenda.

Wood and other councilors have heard from residents unhappy with repeated explosions and bright lights into the early morning hours. 

Councilor Dan Gookin read a letter at Tuesday’s council meeting from a resident who said she has been an Idahoan 30 years and called Coeur d’Alene home for 10. 

She wrote that illegal fireworks disturb the peace, frighten pets and affect veterans with PTSD. 

“Please do what you can do stop this nonsense before something bad happens,” she wrote. 

“I agree,” Gookin said. “So, what are we going to do?” 

Aerial fireworks are illegal in the city. Only fireworks with the “Safe and Sane” marking or those sold from a local vendor stand with an issued permit are allowed. 

Fireworks are not allowed in any city parks, including Tubbs Hill. 

Wood said she hopes discussions might lead to possible fireworks zones families could use together.

The topic will be placed on a future City Council agenda.

Editor's note: While nowhere in the story does it state this would be mandatory, the words "voluntary fireworks zones" were added to the story to make it clear this would be voluntary.