Editor,

Fires are burning in the Queets rain forest in Olympic National Park this summer. Smoke blowing down from Canada alerts us that fires rage there, too.

We on Whidbey Island know that our woods and grass lands are just as dry, ready to burst into flame if touched by a carelessly tossed match or firecracker. How fast could such a fire spread? Take a look to your right at the blackened fields as you drive from Freeland to Bayview on Highway 525. In this case, our valiant firefighters were able to stop the flames. But, can you imagine the panic if a fire on Whidbey spread out of control? We have three exits from this island, none of which could manage a mass evacuation.

When our fire danger is high, Island County Sheriff Mark Brown, who is also the fire marshal, alerts us with signs and newspaper notices of the burn ban, and all sensible residents strictly observe it. But what about fireworks? In most cities of Washington, fireworks are illegal, but not so in many unincorporated areas, such as Whidbey Island. As this year’s Fourth of July approached, even with extreme fire danger in the state, officials from the governor on down seemed flummoxed, with apparently no one able to take emergency action.

I contend that only local fire or police officials are in a position to evaluate fire danger in their region; and if they judge fire danger to be high, they must be given the authority to ban all outdoor burning, including the setting off of fireworks. An even better solution for Island County would be to completely ban fireworks. We cannot be so irresponsible as to wait for a massive fire, destroying houses and taking lives, before we change this law.

GLORIA KOLL

Freeland