Redmond City Council to hear proposal for fireworks ban

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond City Council is scheduled to hear public testimony Tuesday on a proposal that would prohibit the possession, sale and use of fireworks within city limits.

Ordinance No. 2026-11 would amend Redmond City Code Section 5.305, creating a broader restriction on private fireworks in the city. Currently, private use of legal fireworks is allowed only on July 4, according to the city.

Mayor Ed Fitch said the July Fourth weekend helped convince him to support a complete ban.

“I call it the 7-Eleven weekend,” Fitch told KTVZ. “July 4th, we had 11 fires. Seven of them were caused by fireworks. So it was dramatic.”

The city also said 11 fires occurred in Redmond during the July Fourth weekend.

Fitch said he had resisted a full ban for several years, in part because fireworks have been a family tradition.

“I love doing fireworks with the kids and grandkids, but it’s just getting too difficult,” he said.

The mayor said input from police and fire personnel also influenced his position, particularly the difficulty of identifying illegal fireworks when legal fireworks are also being used.

“Having both legal and illegal fireworks at the same time makes it more difficult to track down illegal fireworks,” Fitch said. “And there’s just too many fires. Plain and simple.”

Fitch said he expects the ordinance to pass and plans to support it.

In written responses to KTVZ, Redmond Fire Marshal Tom Moody said Redmond Fire & Rescue is concerned about the risk private fireworks can pose to people, property and natural resources during Central Oregon’s hot, dry and windy summer conditions.

“While many fireworks are used responsibly, even legal consumer fireworks have the potential to ignite vegetation, structures, and other combustible materials,” Moody wrote.

Moody said the department responds each year to fire incidents directly or indirectly associated with fireworks. He said a ban “would likely reduce the number of ignition sources present during the highest-risk periods of the year.”

“From a fire-service standpoint, fewer fireworks being used generally means fewer opportunities for accidental fires, burn injuries, and fireworks-related emergency calls,” Moody wrote.

He added that reducing preventable ignitions could help protect homes, businesses and open spaces while allowing first responders to remain available for medical calls, crashes and other emergencies.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office also emphasized wildfire prevention.

“Preventing wildfires caused by fireworks is the primary concern of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office,” public information officer Jason Carr said in a written statement to KTVZ. “Our goal is to help people understand just how quickly fireworks can start a wildfire if they are improperly handled or discarded.”

Carr encouraged people who use fireworks to keep water nearby, use them only on cleared surfaces such as a driveway or paved road, and fully soak them before disposal.

Moody said Redmond Fire & Rescue recognizes fireworks are a longstanding tradition for many families, but urged councilors and residents to weigh that tradition against the potential risks to neighborhoods, first responders and the broader community.

The public hearing is one of the main agenda items for Tuesday’s (August 11, 2026) Redmond City Council meeting at City Hall.