There were 432 fireworks-related emergencies in Washington in 2014. Some $320,240 in damage was caused to property, 277 people were injured, and there were 155 fires.

Fireworks are a traditional part of celebrating our nation’s independence, a tradition as old as the nation itself. But with five professionally presented fireworks shows in Kitsap County in July — free and open to the public — the purchase and use of personal fireworks doesn’t seem to justify the fire risk. Particularly when low rainfall results in tinder dry conditions. Like this year: 11 fires have burned 883,451 acres in eastern Washington.

The Bremerton City Council recently amended its fireworks ordinance to empower the fire chief to ban personal fireworks in times of extreme danger. Fire chiefs, police chiefs and sheriffs are empowered to make certain decisions to protect the general public if they reasonably perceive an imminent risk of harm to the public; it doesn’t make sense that a fire chief doesn’t have that authority when it comes to an individual lighting a pyrotechnic device capable of causing a life-threatening conflagration.

Bremerton’s fire chief now has that authority, although, under state law, the first time it can be employed is 2017.

Bremerton Fire Chief Al Duke said in an earlier story that he will make his decision on whether to ban based on whether a burn ban is in effect, the number of Bremerton firefighters fighting wildfires or on vacation, the moisture content in wood, and the weather forecast.

If it hasn’t done so, we encourage the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners to similarly empower the county fire chief; otherwise, people might simply take their personal fireworks into unincorporated areas to light them off.