Next Tuesday, the skies over Quartermaster Harbor will once again light up with the cascades and comet effects of a professional fireworks display, starting just after dusk, to celebrate the Fourth of July.
As in years past on Vashon, the display will be funded by anonymous donors.
However, plans for the show were confirmed by Rich Vaughan, the regional manager and show producer of Pyro Spectaculars, the fireworks company that will present the event, who spoke to The Beachcomber in a phone interview.
Vaughan said this year’s show on Vashon — launched from a barge in the center of the Harbor — will be dazzling as always, but that viewers can expect the fireworks display to fill the sky with a little less width and height than in previous years, due to changes in the highly regulated fireworks industry regarding the availability of larger 12-inch and 16-inch shells from China.
A company in Michigan that had been the only source of those sized mortars in the Northwest is now closed, he said, which will mean that all of this year’s shows throughout the region — including Seattle’s show at the Space Needle — will utilize smaller, 10-inch mortars, due to the difficulty of obtaining those products from China and then transporting them to the region.
Last year, Vaughan told The Beachcomber that his industry had been disrupted by widespread shortages of rental trucks. This year, he said, a severe worker shortage was in play, hampering his ability to find hourly workers to load trucks.
Still, he said, the team in charge of designing and implementing Vashon’s show has already begun to plan and “write the script” for this year’s show on Vashon — one of 67 shows that Pyro Spectaculars will produce between July 1 and July 4.
Hydros race returns, too
The jumping-off time and place for Vashon’s annual hydroplane race — an event that has marked Independence Day on the island for almost seven decades — will be at 5 a.m., July 4, at Jensen Point Park.
This year’s race will boast seven hydros, said Brian Brenno, a lifelong islander, artist, author, and hydrophane race aficionado.
In the days leading up to the race, expect to hear the high, whining sound of the boats practicing for the annual races.
An exhibit about the hydro races is scheduled for a soft opening at 6 p.m. Friday, June 30 at the Vashon Heritage Museum. The show, curated by Brenno, will memorialize the race since its first incarnation in 1955, when islander Roger Stanley went for a run around Vashon on his home-built hydro.
Stanley’s hydroplane, along with other memorabilia and photos, will be included in the exhibit, and Stanley and Brenno will also both be at the July 30 opening. The official opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Friday, July 6.
Brenno is also the author of a book published in 2022, “4th of July Hydros: Circling Vashon Since 1955,” detailing the history of the noisy and thrill-packed island event — loved by many, hated by some, and tolerated as any island tradition by others.
The final group, according to Brenno, is known for saying, “It only happens once a year.”
Consumer fireworks prohibited
For the second year in a row, new rules regarding consumer fireworks are in place on Vashon, for July Fourth traditions. Unincorporated areas in King County won’t see fireworks stands, and residents aren’t allowed to light fireworks on their property or elsewhere.
Instead, the county is encouraging residents to find ways to celebrate the Fourth that don’t endanger residents, pets or property. Violations of the ban can be reported here or by calling 206-848-0800.
In an email, Vashon Fire Chief Matt Vinci didn’t mince words in discouraging the use of personal fireworks on Vashon, while also encouraging islanders to enjoy Independence Day with family and friends.
“Fireworks are illegal in King County,” he said. “They can be destructive, dangerous, and deadly. The only safe way to view fireworks is by attending public displays and leaving the lighting of fireworks to the professionals.”
Vinci said that he was currently working to arrange signage to be placed on the north and south ends of Vashon reminding visitors and islanders about the fireworks ban.
Due to dry conditions, a Stage 1 burn ban is currently in effect in King County, prohibiting burning yard debris in rural areas. Recreational fires are permitted under strict guidelines, including that the fire must be built in a metal or concrete pit; grow no larger than three feet wide; be 25 feet away from any structure; and be attended by an alert person with equipment, such as a fully charged hose, who can put out the fire.
After use, all campfires must be completely extinguished. No burning is allowed when the wind speed is greater than 15 miles an hour.
Caring for Pets
Many pets are distressed and disoriented by fireworks.
To report a lost or found pet, visit VIPP.org to make a report to Vashon Island Pet Protectors. Islanders can also call VIPP at 206-389-1085 or email lostandfound@vipp.org.
A new island nonprofit rescue, Haven, will also provide a range of community service support in response to the upcoming holiday.
The organization will provide free microchipping and ID tags for community members and their dogs during its Stars, Stripes and Microchip event, from 12-4 p.m. Sunday, July 2, in the Vashon Market IGA parking lot. To pre-register, go to www.havenrescue.org/microchipping — though walk-ups are also welcome.
The organization is also installing public microchip reading stations around the island for community members to use, and will have a team of responders ready to pick up a running or found pet or search for one that goes missing.
Haven can be reached via phone or text at 206-876-9652 or via email at info@havenrescue.org.
