Mystery booms: Fireworks? Gunshots? Or?

We’ve received several reports/questions about overnight explosion-type noise west of The Junction that seems to be a mystery in need of solving – maybe you can help. One report today is from Lisa, who says it’s been going on for a few weeks, in the very early morning hours, and seems too loud to be any kind of fireworks. Other reports are from north of The Junction, including “huge booms” heard around 2:30 am near California/Andover. Lisa, meantime, summarizes: “I would like to figure out how to get this out and report it effectively to make it stop; if illegal, to have more done.” We know from scanner traffic that 911 did get some calls, but nothing conclusive appears to have resulted, so far.

Gina July 12, 2016 (10:54 am)

Fireworks. Night before last I could see them going off, about 2:15. Schmitz Park area of Admiral was my guess. Closing time at Alki, religious festival, annoying neighbor. Could be a mortar other than fireworks. Can hear the sucking noise before the boom, so not gunfire.

WSguy July 12, 2016 (11:25 am)

I used to hear loud booms coming from Nucor in the middle of the night. Perhaps they are pulling all nighters again.

EmmyJane July 12, 2016 (11:27 am)

I heard it at 12:43 am, near the Alaska junction. First time I’ve heard a noise that I really thought was a shot.

GF July 12, 2016 (11:36 am)

I heard a very loud, what sounded like gun shot around 38th and Olga at 2:09am last night (Monday). Our windows were open so it sounded very loud and woke me up. Perhaps it was fireworks but did seem louder.

clinker July 12, 2016 (11:38 am)

This was right outside our window near Andover on 44th. Sounded like a big firecracker.

Upper schmitz/admiral July 12, 2016 (11:43 am)

Yes I’ve heard them. I will be sure to call 911 when I hear them again. I believe I’ve heard both gunfire and fireworks around 230. We are near 52nd and Stevens.

WestSeattleCoug July 12, 2016 (11:59 am)

Caught the bus this morning at Olga & Admiral. A neighbor who rides the same bus as me said there was a mortar launch casing on the street outside his house this morning. He’s near 37th and Admiral. He said the BOOM was right near his house, which is right by the Belvidere pocket-park.

Wes C. Adle July 12, 2016 (12:05 pm)

Heard some last Thursday in the Gatewood area. Sounded like a cake of firecrackers and an M-80 then another round of the same about a minute later. I could see the smoke rising from where they were lit off in the street when I looked out my window.

M July 12, 2016 (12:28 pm)

I heard the loud boom last night close to 2:30 am.

Stacy July 12, 2016 (1:33 pm)

I heard the loud boom as well around 2:30 a.m. too. I live on California/Charleston area. It was not just a firework, it was more powerful and loud. One popping sound.

Diane July 12, 2016 (2:17 pm)

yes; I’m at 37th & Admiral, and nearly every night very late since July 4, VERY LOUD fireworks; boom boom boom………last night was the latest so far, about 2am

Diane July 12, 2016 (2:20 pm)

can someone please tell me how to edit comments with this new website? above was supposed to be 37th & Hinds; I can’t see any way to edit anymore; very frustrating

WSB July 12, 2016 (2:29 pm)

Sorry, we haven’t restored the edit function yet. It’s a tricky thing for sites that don’t require people to log in, but we miss it too; thanks for your patience.

Katie July 12, 2016 (3:10 pm)

My husband and I are on California and Charleston and it sounded like it was right outside of our window. I jumped out of bed, and our poor dog ended up scared/pooping himself it was so loud and wouldn’t stop pacing for the remainder of the night. Seriously, not okay, whatever it is.

RYANC July 12, 2016 (3:12 pm)

My wife heard it at 2am last night. Said it was an explosion type boom and not a firework. We live at California and Andover.

MsD July 12, 2016 (4:48 pm)

I’m also in the California/Charlestown vicinity and it was LOUD, like shaking the windows loud, around 2:30 a.m. I didn’t think it sounded like fireworks (even the big ones), or shots. It sounded like an actual explosion. I called 911 to report it. I heard two loud booms a couple of hours earlier, but I’m pretty sure it was a car backfiring as they peeled out on to California.

Millers July 12, 2016 (5:58 pm)

We live on Belvidere and Hinds. A very loud, strong boom woke me at 2:30 a.m. It sounded like a very large object hit our house.

West July 12, 2016 (4:57 pm)

Its some boys in a white truck. Also a pack of young adults runing around

Carole July 12, 2016 (5:11 pm)

I heard it about 2:30 as well. I thought someone had driven into a building.

Kate July 12, 2016 (6:37 pm)

Any updates on this? I just heard one in the Seaview area 10 minutes ago.

BCJ July 12, 2016 (6:46 pm)

Yeah, heard that in Seaview as well

WSB July 12, 2016 (7:22 pm)

No fire calls, no power outages (except for a 4-customer outage that started at 6:06 pm at the south end of 35th SW in south Arbor Heights, so … don’t know.
- chemist July 12, 2016 (7:54 pm)
  
  Just one loud one, sounded pretty close – 47th S of Erskine.

Peanut July 12, 2016 (10:13 pm)

I can assure you, it was fireworks. I’m almost certain it was 2-3 different incidences spaces nicely apart about every half hour. I leave near the water tour and I could see at least one. Our poor dog.

Bryan July 13, 2016 (10:00 am)

I heard these (three booms) last night from farther away: Near Holden and 19th. I thought they sounded different from the fireworks we heard around the 4th, but not a gun. I’m surprised to learn how far away they were. It sounds like it was in Belvidere, three miles away. I thought it was more like a quarter to a half mile away.

I’m not sure what time it was.

Mike July 13, 2016 (1:20 pm)

I live on 44th between Charleston and Andover. Heard the booms last night too. They were definitely loud fireworks..

Al July 14, 2016 (3:37 am)

Heard these booms, several at 2:30am Thursday. Sounded very close for first two then either one further away or just smaller then there was a final one very loud/close again. Sounded like it was between Kenyon and Thistle in the lane by the School.

Eric July 15, 2016 (7:21 pm)

There is a new bullet hole in the stop sign at Glen Way and Oregon (which is two blocks south of Andover). I took a photo and sent it to WSB Editor RE: this post, but they didn’t update. I’d say its a good candidate for the original posters’ noise complaint.

I walk past this area all the time and JUST noticed it.

Eric