Citing severe drought conditions, the Eugene City Council has banned fireworks in the south hills.
Facing a forecast in the 90’s through the holiday weekend, councilors held an emergency meeting Wednesday. The result was a unanimous vote to ban all fireworks within City limits south of 18th Avenue and all areas east of Agate Street.
Chris Pryor: “But I don’t want to support anything that doesn’t have teeth behind it.”
That’s Councilor Chris Pryor. The ordinance enacts his sentiments in the form of ten thousand dollars for enforcement. Police Chief Pete Kerns explained the funds will refocus the department’s enforcement efforts out of the Coburg and Bethel areas
Chief Kerns: “We’d use the same resources, we’d enhance it a little bit and and shift our focus on the south hills.”
Fines for using fireworks in the south hills will run from two hundred and fifty to five hundred dollars. The skies over Eugene will still be spangled with the large public fireworks displays that have become a tradition here. They are not affected by the ordinance. The fireworks ban is in effect till July 6th, when all fireworks become illegal statewide.
