The House State Affairs Committee voted down legislation today to ban the sale of aerial fireworks in Idaho. Shooting off aerial fireworks already is illegal in Idaho, but under a loophole in the law, they are sold legally at two busy locations in southwestern Idaho. Those businesses require purchasers to sign an affidavit saying they won’t set off the fireworks in-state.

On a 9-6 vote, the committee opposed even introducing the legislation, refusing to allow a hearing on it; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan, a prime backer of the bill, reacted angrily. “It was clear by the actions of the committee today they do not care about firefighter safety, or if people’s homes and lives are being destroyed by illegal fireworks every year,” he said in a statement. “The exorbitant cost to taxpayers and local governments, and the fact that six homes in Ada County were burned down last year, was not enough to influence their decision to print a bill which would allow a full hearing and dialogue about this important issue.”

He added, “The ability to purchase illegal fireworks apparently trumps the right of residents to protect their home from fires. This summer when someone’s home burns down due to aerial fireworks you can blame the House State Affairs Committee.”

House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, the bill’s sponsor, agreed with that assessment. “If houses in the Treasure Valley burn, it’s the State Affairs Committee’s fault,” he said this afternoon. “At this time, I don’t think that that bill has much breath left in it. I think we need to go back to the drawing board.”

Some committee members said they opposed introducing the bill because it wouldn’t also ban the sale of fireworks on Idaho Indian reservations, where sovereign tribes determine their own policy in accordance with federal law. Others raised technical questions about the bill and how it would work. “It did not appear to do what he was representing it would do,” said Rep. Vito  Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens.

Here’s how the committee voted on Rep. Elaine Smith’s motion to introduce the bill:

In favor: Reps. Loertscher, Monks, Luker, Crane, Smith and Jordan.

Against: Reps. Palmer, Barbieri, Holtzclaw, Harris, Scott, Armstrong, Giddings, Manwaring and Zito.

The motion failed 6-9, and the bill was rejected. Doan said last June’s 2,500-acre Table Rock Fire, which was caused by illegal fireworks, burned one home and threatened hundreds of others, cost taxpayers $341,000.

Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, who voted in favor of introducing the measure, said he still had questions about it. “I think Rep. Erpelding has some work to do to find out if he could get the tribes on board,” Crane said. He added that he’s not sure Idahoans want to ban the sale of aerial fireworks, saying, “He attempted to light the fuse, and it was a dud.”

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