Redmond City Council on May 9 voted unanimously to ban fireworks year-round in the Dry Canyon parks system.

The ban went into effect immediately.

City councilors and staff argued that fireworks in the canyon had an outsized ability to start fires and endanger lives and property.

“We’re not getting wetter, we’re getting drier,” said Keith Witcosky, Redmond city manager. “Dry Canyon is the most wild of all our areas and there’s a lot of fuels down there.”

Redmond’s High Desert climate conditions make wildfires possible all year. Cassaro noted that the parks department does work to create firebreaks in the Dry Canyon as a way to limit the spread of a wild fire, but those are not foolproof.

And though fireworks won’t be appearing in the Dry Canyon, Fourth of July firework show at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds & Expo Center will take place this year.

However, unlike years past, there will be no free parking at the fairgrounds.