Officials in Eugene and Lane County are encouraging residents to exercise caution for the Fourth of July holiday, with the city still enforcing its fireworks ban and worries about hot weather and fire danger everywhere.
Here is everything you need to know about fireworks bans, safety, weather and more in preparation for the Fourth of July.
What fireworks are legal and illegal in Eugene, Springfield
Any firework that is launched into the air or shoots flames is illegal without a permit in Oregon.
Illegal fireworks include but are not limited to sky lanterns, missiles, rockets, firecrackers, cherry bombs, m-80s, Roman candles and bottle rockets.
Legal fireworks sold from June 23 to July 6 in Oregon include flitter sparklers, fountains, ground spinners and spinning wheels. These fireworks often stay on the ground and are easy to control, however, while legal in Oregon, these fireworks are banned in Eugene.
In Springfield, there are no banned areas where people can use legal fireworks.
The following types of fireworks and other novelties are allowed in Eugene:
- Paper caps containing 0.25 grains or less of explosive mixture.
- Model Rockets and model rocket motors used to propel recoverable models of rockets.
- Booby Trap/ Pull Apart containing 0.016 grams or less of composition weight.
- Novelty Flitter Sparklers containing 5 grams or less of composition weight.
- Party Poppers containing 5 grams or less of composition weight.
- Snakes or similar smoke-producing items containing 100 grains or less of combustible substances.
- Novelty Wire Sparklers or Novelty Dipped Sticks containing 25 grams or less of composition weight.
- Novelty smoke devices containing 5 grams or less of composition weight.
The maximum penalty for violating the ordinance is a fine of up to $500 if you buy, sell or set off fireworks within the city limits.
Eugene weather forecast for Fourth of July
A heat wave is expected to hit Eugene starting Thursday with a high near 91 degrees and a low around 58 degrees.
The weather is expected to get warmer as the week goes on, with a high near 97 degrees on Friday and a low near 59 degrees, and a temperature high near 98 degrees on Saturday with a low around 59 degrees.
"Now is a good time to make sure you and your loved ones have a way to keep cool later this week into next weekend," said a Sunday post on X from the National Weather Service in Portland. "It may be worth planning activities now to avoid or deal with the afternoon heat."
Start of fire season in Lane County, other firework restrictions
The Oregon Department of Forestry officially declared fire season in the Western Lane District Monday, which means the manufacture, sale or use of fireworks in unincorporated areas of Lane County are now prohibited. Violation of the law is punishable by up to $1,000 in fines or 30 days in jail.
The ordinance was passed in 2021 as part of an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire in rural communities following the devastating 2020 Holiday Farm Fire.
Other prohibited locations include Oregon state beaches, parks, campgrounds, and state and federal forest lands.
How to use Fourth of July fireworks safely
The Oregon State Fire Marshal is encouraging residents to adopt the following safety practices when using fireworks:
- Be prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket.
- Be safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fireworks. Never use fireworks near or on dry grass or vegetation.
- Be responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Please wait 15 to 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water before disposal.
- Be aware: Use only legal fireworks in legal places.
To reduce the risk of fires, seek out areas free of dried, cured grasses, brush or trees when setting off legal fireworks.
When to call 911 or the non-emergency line for fireworks
The Fourth of July is one of the busiest holidays of the year for law enforcement agencies and first responders.
According to Melinda McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Eugene Police Department, it is never appropriate to call 911 for fireworks unless someone has been injured or property is actively being damaged by them.
Dispatch calls regarding illegal fireworks between 8 p.m. on July 4 and 2 a.m. on July 5 rose to a staggering 185 calls in 2023, the highest volume Eugene Police have seen in at least eight years. In contrast, only 131 calls were reported during the same time period in 2022.
McLaughlin says lower-level calls may take longer to get to for officers, such as noise complaints and concerns of illegal fireworks.
Residents in unincorporated areas who wish to report the use or sale of fireworks should call the Lane County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at (541)-682-4150. The non-emergency line for Eugene is (541)-682-5111 and the non-emergency line for Springfield is (541)-682-4150.
The Eugene Springfield Fire Department also has a Fireworks Alert App where city officials will receive information along with the geo-location of where photographs were taken in order to analyze areas of the community for future education and enforcement efforts.
Fireworks Amnesty Day
Eugene and Springfield are providing the opportunity for residents in possession of illegal fireworks to get rid of them without being cited.
The events are only open to private individuals on July 4 and July 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:
- Eugene Fire Station 2 at 1705 W Second Ave.
- Springfield Fire Station 3 at 1225 28th St.
Where to find Fourth of July celebrations
The Register-Guard has compiled a list of Fourth of July events and fireworks shows around Eugene.
Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.
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