WEST SEATTLE FOURTH OF JULY: Late-night notes – Alki crash, ‘brush fires,’ & more

10:35 PM: Many Fourth of July late nights, we keep an incident log, so we’re starting one now. Above is the SPD Mobile Precinct, seen at Alki around 7 pm. Around 9 pm, police radioed that they would be assisting Seattle Parks in closing the beach. Then came a call for police to help SFD with numerous illegal beach fires. And right now, police are handling a crash in the (corrected) 1200 block of Alki SW – the whole block is closed, per the scanner. This was originally dispatched as a rollover but we’re not sure if that’s what it turned out to be; more than half the originally dispatched SFD units have been dismissed. … Update: Erin just sent this photo. Definitely a flipped car.

One person is reported to be getting evaluated for possible injuries.

11:02 PM: Another Alki crash dispatch, 56th about half a block south of Alki SW. Also, a car fire at 6th SW/SW Cloverdale, which is close to a “brush fire” call last hour. The previous call was answered by Squad 40, a unit we don’t usually hear mentioned routinely. SFD explains that it’s “our brush truck used for wildland firefighting deployments. We have it staffed and in-service today for responding to extinguish spot/brush fires.”

11:28 PM: Alki SW is still closed at the flipped-car crash scene, which, as shown in the photo below sent by Michael, is outside the Infinity project site – took out the fencing:

11:35 PM: Now a “brush fire” call at Gatewood Elementary – which is barely half a block west of this evening’s apartment fire. Dispatcher says a tree is on fire. … And a minute later, a “rubbish fire” dispatch at Lowman Beach.

12:33 AM: Things have quieted down somewhat since that burst.

1:12 AM: What’s it been like on Alki? Two photos from David Hutchinson:

Up here east of Lincoln Park, we’re still hearing scattered booms.

2:28 AM: Finally quiet, at least here.

3:15 AM: Well, it was, till now. P.S. If you are among the kind souls who go out on the morning of the 5th to clean up … consider sending us a photo of what you find.

Duffy July 4, 2020 (10:50 pm)

Never ceases to amaze me how selfish people are around here. Fireworks are illegal yet a bunch of grown ass children continue to light them off with no regard for anyone else around them. Screw all of you.

Wow July 4, 2020 (11:21 pm)

Normally I’d be like “let people have their night,” even though I hate fireworks, but I agree. Screw everyone down on Alki right now. What a total inconsiderate sh-tshow. I got on WSB hoping to see that the cops were on their way and saw the crashes. Apparently that’s not worth holding back the “celebration.” – -exhausted and kind of scared Alki resident
Gnar July 4, 2020 (11:24 pm)

Is it just me, or is it especially bad this year? Just walked down the street—the whole beach is a launch site.
- Icanteven July 4, 2020 (11:47 pm)
  
  It is especially bad. Probably the worst 4th I’ve ever experienced down here. And I am very careful with statements like that because I know we as humans often don’t have great memories and sometimes the present moment seems like it’s so much worse than anything that came before, but this is legitimately the longest the loudest and just the worst and it has to do with people just being out of control as a result of this pandemic and paying no heed to individuals with complex trauma or PTSD or just the inherent traumatic experience of covid. I have neighbors who are basically Covidiots and all they’ve been doing is having huge parties and they’re lighting off fireworks in the street right here, so I’m just so done with it all. There’s a certain sector of people who really have absolutely no regard, compassion, empathy or anything for anyone else human or other species. The smoke is so thick by the way that it is infiltrating my house and I have every single window closed, that’s how bad it is down here and I can guarantee you it has never been like that before. you shouldn’t really have to smell fireworks smoke in your house with all your windows and doors closed. Sickening.
  - Idoitsonly July 5, 2020 (10:26 am)
    
    I couldn’t agree with you more!!
  - West Seattle since 1979 July 5, 2020 (10:46 am)
    
    Gnar, it’s not just you. I think part of it was that there was no official display this year. Someone was setting off fireworks a couple blocks away from where I live. After hearing about that apartment fire, I was really worried about fires, not to mention the noise is hard on a lot of people and animals.
- rbs July 5, 2020 (12:33 am)
  
  Yep, its just you.
  - RMH July 5, 2020 (4:19 am)
    
    No, it’s not just you. Now awake 3:50 – 4:15 by huge mortar style blasts Alki Point. Worst year ever for this activity. Agree with all comments here. Enough is enough.
  - oakley34 July 5, 2020 (6:54 am)
    
    No, not just you.
  - WTF July 5, 2020 (7:32 am)
    
    No. It’s not just Gnar.
- West Seattle Best Seattle July 5, 2020 (1:03 am)
  
  I live in an apartment building very close to the Alaska Junction and we’ve all been observing the increase in fireworks this year. It was pretty loud and honestly kind of annoying last night (the 3rd) and it certainly seemed as though there we’re more displays than years prior this 4th. I can still hear them as I write this. I think people are yearning for a sense of normalcy. People want to feel at home in the world they know which kind of doesn’t exist at the moment. Everything we look forward to has been canceled and for good reason! But I think there are a lot hurting hearts who thought that maybe tonight they could find something to celebrate. That in a time where Freedom means a whole helluva lot and means so many different things and it’s so hard to put words to, maybe just making loud noises and looking at pretty lights for an hour or two could help. It helped me and my neighbors. And my fearless, super weird dog lol. No one should be starting fires in the beach though wtf 🤦🏼‍♀️ But just try not to forget that the world is in pain and it’s hard for most all of us to just lose tradition and routine and normalcy. It’s likely that buying fireworks increased this year because we can’t do anything else. And I bet a lot of people were just trying to make the city happy.
  - oakley34 July 5, 2020 (6:57 am)
    
    Oh your poor hurting hearts. I’m glad YOUR home didn’t catch fire.
  - Gatewood July 5, 2020 (8:45 am)
    
    I do not care if people are just trying to find “normal”. Use a sparkler and eat some potato salad. Catching homes (and risking catching homes) on fire and setting fireworks off until 3:30/4am is absolutely selfish and inconsiderate. I’m tired of people not thinking about anyone else but themselves.
  - Vets are suffering July 5, 2020 (9:20 am)
    
    I mean, no I can’t understand the entitlement of what I witnessed last night because I also witnessed my partner suffering from a panic attack every night this week because he has combat-related PTSD.
    - West Seattle since 1979 July 5, 2020 (10:49 am)
      
      That’s awful, Annoyed. I hope people are finished with the fireworks for the year.
Dunno July 5, 2020 (3:30 pm)

I guess we all know now what it was like to be stuck living or having a business inside the Chaz/Chop zone. This is what defunding the police will look like, only a lot worse! I think the police were extra careful this year not to upset any law breakers for fear of the continuing backlash for a very few bad cops. Have you been there to see what our women and men in blue put up with? Talk about harassment!

Rob S July 4, 2020 (11:05 pm)

Alki Beach is not closed with Fireworks and Beach Fires up and down the strip. I’m hoping we don’t have a roof fire tonight. Nothing we can do about it I guess. Lawless society. During a pandemic to boot. Go USA! Let’s Party!

alki_2008 July 5, 2020 (12:43 am)

Ugh! Police vehicle drove by on the boardwalk to clear the beach, announce it’s closed, tell people to leave. Guy on a bike blocks the police vehicle. They tell him to “Get out of our way” and he rides forward a bit, then turns his bike and blocks them again.Yells at the police for driving on a sidewalk. If it’s a “sidewalk” then why is he riding his bike on it?And then he goes on a rant about how the police work for him, how he paid for the vehicle they’re driving, blah, blah, blah. Seriously?! That would mean the police also work for everyone else living nearby, and some of those people want the beach to close so they (and their pets) can finally get some quiet. It’s already hours past the official closing time of the beach.Bike guy finally moved along. Guess he didn’t get the reaction he was hoping for. People walking past him, on the OTHER side of the boardwalk that the police were not on, did not seem impressed with his behavior either.
- ALLMINE July 5, 2020 (9:02 am)
  
  That’s called being self righteous. There’s a lot of that in Seattle now. It’s all about them, “their” rights. As Mike Tyson said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.
- Sidewalk July 5, 2020 (9:56 am)
  
  That guy was being a jerk but it is legal to ride a bike on the sidewalk in Seattle as long as you do so in a way considerate to other pedestrians.
  - Also John July 5, 2020 (1:58 pm)
    
    Section 11.44.120 allows bikes to ride on a sidewalk. The bike must yield to walkers.

WASTE July 4, 2020 (11:30 pm)

In Arbor Heights here, near 106th and 35th, and there has been a house just a few blocks down from us lighting off the giant mortar style fireworks legit non stop since 2PM or so today. Like, I’m not kidding non stop, all day. Must be at like hundreds of them at this point. It’s really disrespectful, and it’s really annoying now, at midnight, but seriously, WHERE ARE ALL THESE FIREWORKS COMING FROM?! How the hell do you buy so many of these? Where the hell do you store them? And how many thousands of dollars are you pissing into the wind? Seeing as I’v been watching and hearing them for hours, they all look exactly the same. What a gigantic waste of money, what an incredibly selfish thing to do in your neighborhood. I have come to hate this day with a passion.

WASTE July 5, 2020 (12:31 am)

Drove by, it’s like a whole crazy operation, palleted, remote controlled (?!?), never seen anything like it. Fireworks constantly, like I mean constantly, from midday until midnight. Absolutely unreal. My nerves are legit shot.

28th and 106th.
AHneighbor July 5, 2020 (12:32 am)

Plot twist! It’s several pallets worth of fireworks set up right on 106th. There are even cones put out on the street to deter anyone from parking there I guess? No human in sight but they’re going off every couple minutes still. Just outside of Seattle City limits, west of 28th but on the south side of 106th.
Matt P July 5, 2020 (12:36 am)

If you can see them doing it, call 911. That’s supposedly a legit reason to call when you know the exact location and they are actively firing them.

Icanteven July 4, 2020 (11:42 pm)

They are doing absolutely nothing down here regarding sweeping the beach, closing it off or dealing with the fireworks; having lived down here for almost a decade this is probably the worst fireworks on the beach I’ve ever experienced. I’ve had to close all the windows in my house the smoke in the air is so thick and it’s fairly windy tonight. It’s sickening, and it’s terrible to have what are basically bombs exploding in people’s backyards. They’re so loud and violent– these are not just little fireworks and they have no place being on Alki Beach. the harm to wildlife, humans, domestic animals; it’s just unbelievable. It’s now 11:41 & this is been going on since 9:30-10:00 at this caliber when I arrived home. So they can send in troops in riot gear for peaceful protest, but they can’t even stop this illegal activity? I walked 6 miles tonight and passed by that apartment on fire on California. It’s just insane; they sweep us all out of the park at eight or nine pm, but they can’t get everybody out of here and deal with illegal fireworks on the 4th of July?

Tolerant_40 July 5, 2020 (3:50 am)

Seriously over reacting. That one Justin Timberlake song….
The irony July 5, 2020 (9:24 am)

Right?! No hesitation using tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters but when it comes to illegal and harmful fireworks, it’s just a big shrug

The Rog July 4, 2020 (11:45 pm)

I’ll be out there cleaning up beach trash in the morning before I have to go to work. For those who will do the same I’m sending you air high fives.

Chris July 5, 2020 (12:09 am)

Fireworks started about 7pm & there has not been one second without them. No sleep now for 2 days as pets are not even responding to medication since so bad. This is ridiculous. We have to agree with comments above. This is the worst 4th we have known in all the years we have been in West Seattle. Wow. Hoping they will stop for the night…now midnight.

Wsguy123 July 5, 2020 (12:59 am)

When I was at Alki a few days ago, there were still signs saying beach closes at 9:30. Further proof people don’t heed signs. We need police more than ever and we need politicians to let them do their job. The scene at Alki proves the point. I understand why people want to defund them but who’s going to enforce laws like speeding, negligent driving, etc? What happens when it’s your relative hit by a speeder in your neighborhood? Police haven’t focused on moving violations in years, much less fireworks.

Aero July 5, 2020 (4:55 am)

Totally agree! We need police and need to let them enforce the laws. People are so critical and are saying, “why aren’t police doing anything?” As citizens, some want to pick and choose which laws they enforce. If they did start writing tickets for fireworks, you’d have plenty of people complaining about how they’re just fireworks. They’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
KM July 5, 2020 (8:56 am)

You are right, police have not been consistently enforcing those laws for YEARS, and yet they continue to rake in the overtime. Giving the department even more money isn’t going to work based on past behavior. If you want people to stop speeding, automated (non-biased) enforcement and better road design will get you most of the way there, not police picking and choosing where and who they pull drivers over, and who gets away with a warning. We need to move toward preventing the behavior, rather than focusing on biased, punitive responses to it. As for fireworks, banning their sale in unincorporated King County and putting pressure on other nearby counties to do the same is a start. I’m sure there are other ideas too. There’s a lot of work to be done outside of giving police more money and hiring more officers. And if god forbid, your family member is struck by a driver, I hope the paramedics are the first people you call (we should probably moved 911 dispatch out of SPDs control too, and continue to support the lifesaving work of our firefighters and paramedics.)
- West Seattle since 1979 July 5, 2020 (10:57 am)
  
  Yes, defunding police doesn’t mean no police, it just means there are some things now being handled by police that would be better handled by other departments or professionals.
  - heartless July 5, 2020 (10:07 pm)
    
    Yep. Defunding the police doesn’t mean no police. It just means that we free up the money to give the police we have more training, and hire others to do the work the police were never meant to do, and have no interest in doing. It’s really simple, and, once explained, most cops are for it.

Jeremy July 5, 2020 (1:25 am)

They’re still going strong in Highland Park at 1:24am. 👎🏼

Earlybird July 5, 2020 (2:30 am)

Giant mortar-style fireworks still going off from the Delridge skate park at 2:30am. Dogs are so panicked. Can’t we call it a night?

mi July 5, 2020 (3:02 am)

3am there’s still somebody or bodies setting off fireworks in SW seattle. Hoping for all to end soon. Need sleep.

Kim July 5, 2020 (4:56 am)

4:30am and still hearing fireworks in Seaview. Come on people.

Alki resident July 5, 2020 (5:20 am)

What would we do without the blog or social media? Who on earth could we complain to? So much complaining, wish I could say unbelievable but it’s not. We’ve been locked up for months, no live music or venues open. No dancing and letting loose, no social gatherings. Just stress, bad news, and uncertainty for months. Here we come to our first sunny 4th of July in years, on a Saturday much less and people want to celebrate whatever it is that the 4th means to them. We all knew fireworks would happen. We all knew they’d go on for hours. And here we are still complaining to no end. I so welcomed every firework that went up last nite. It represented so many things. I was out in Puyallup early evening while still light out. Every house in a community had people, food, and tons of kids all happy and doing their thing. It was the best feeling in the world to finally see people out and HAPPY. As I headed home down I-5, the light show brought me to tears. For many reasons it just made me cry. But the spectacular fireworks were seen by truck drivers working the nite shift who missed out being with family to deliver goods to our stores. And anyone traveling, they sure got a show. But mainly just made me appreciate. Not sure what you’ll find to complain about the rest of the week but maybe find something to appreciate instead.

West Seattle since 1979 July 5, 2020 (11:01 am)

It wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the danger of fires. Also the noise is bad for people with some types of PTSD and also for many animals. If only there was a clear place with no buildings that people could set off fireworks without worrying about setting buildings on fire.
Or where it wouldn’t disturb people with PTSD or pets.
Tsurly July 5, 2020 (12:04 pm)

As an Alki resident, hopefully you are out helping to clean up the mess left behind, since you OK it.
- Alki resident July 5, 2020 (1:47 pm)
  
  I was in Puyallup cleaning and cooking. So did my fair share like I always do.
COMPLAIN July 5, 2020 (12:14 pm)

Thanks for giving me a new thing to complain about! YOU.
Ted July 5, 2020 (3:52 pm)

These types of fireworks are illegal in the Seattle area for a reason. Using them is a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail. Setting off these illegal fireworks is disrespectful and dangerous to everyone around them and violates the private property right of peaceful enjoyment of one’s property.There’s a very good reason why setting off illegal fireworks carries the same penalty as discharging a firearm. Wanna blow stuff up? Live or move to or go to the country or the Indian reservations were these fireworks were sold.Until then, you are the whiner.
datamuse July 6, 2020 (3:34 pm)

I guess you’re right since you’re complaining here, too..I mean, come on. I get what you’re saying, but you also seem to be saying that anything goes, up to and including people’s living spaces filling up with smoke and their windows rattling until two a.m. Is there really no room between having some pretty lights to look at and having a bomb go off in the street in front of your house?

Annoyed July 5, 2020 (6:04 am)

An absolutely insane amount of fireworks in Riverview and Highland Park neighborhoods—all parks and schools and many streets connecting them littered with people and their explosives along my walking route in the evening. Riverview neighborhood was blowing up until 3 a.m.—and not with a light little pop, pop, pop. But, with the echoing, kabooming, bomb-like explosions that rattle windows. And not just one here and there, but consistently and repetitively for HOURS. I do not understand how this complete disregard for other people, animals, nature, and public property is patriotic, civilized, and celebratory. I saw many small children with people lighting off very loud firecrackers. The loud sounds are harmful to ears and it was irresponsible for children to be subjected to it. Unfortunately, just because the Fourth has passed, it doesn’t mean those who engage in lighting fireworks/firecrackers stop doing so.

Smittytheclown July 5, 2020 (7:12 am)

Defund the police! (Sarcasm)

heartless July 5, 2020 (10:04 pm)

I think it’s telling that you had to specifically tell people it was sarcasm.

What, exactly, did the police do to help quell the illegal activity? You are silly.

waikikigirl July 5, 2020 (8:05 am)

Too bad it wasn’t like 4-5am you could go out front of the peoples house who were letting off fireworks all day and night and bang some pot lids, blow off an air horn… LOL!

LG July 5, 2020 (12:58 pm)

I might have been thinking something similar LOL!

anonyme July 5, 2020 (8:18 am)

Last night was the longest 4th I’ve ever experienced here – explosions until well after 3 am. I don’t know why no one reported the dude at 106th – if I’d known the address I would have called police non-stop until there was a response. That’s a maximum fine PLUS jail time if I ever heard one – well, except in Seattle of course. Speaking of fines, it would be interesting to know how many fines were issued in regard to the clear and extreme violations at Alki. My guess – none. If I’m not mistaken, Lisa Herbold has tried to get that information in the past, to no avail. No accountability in this city that I can see.

JR July 5, 2020 (8:24 am)

Was crazy loud around Sealth HS/Delridge P-patch as well/ Definitely more so than previous years, with more/bigger booms than I remember. I get it, but still, by 3 a.m., it ain’t the 4th no more!At least my early morning walk suggested most folks around here cleaned up after themselves.

Edmonds Slope July 5, 2020 (8:26 am)

EC Hughes

Edmonds Slope July 5, 2020 (8:36 am)

Edmonds Slope July 5, 2020 (8:36 am)

Kim July 5, 2020 (8:39 am)

Til 4:15 am on Alki. Now, at 8:30 am, not a bird chirping. Dead silence. Awful.

Free July 5, 2020 (8:52 am)

It’s one day out of the year. Jesus Christ, you’re fine.

John July 5, 2020 (10:59 am)

That’s not true. Where I live in the Shorewood/Arbor Heights area people have been lighting off fireworks for the past five days. While the 4th is the worst, this has become a week long problem. And I take it you don’t have pets or young children or relatives with PTSD who have all been scared to death. I wish our city and county leaders would do something.
miws July 5, 2020 (11:31 am)

Free, JFC, how many times does it have to be repeated, every July 4th, (and New Year’s Eve), (and Seahawks TDs/wins), that it is Not. One. Day. Out. Of. The. Year?!?! And, no. My already diseased lungs are NOT fine after I could still smell smoke in my apartment with all the windows closed last evening, and with the air quality being bad this morning, due to all the fireworks (verified by Q13 News meteorologist). I highly doubt that Veterans and other suffering PTSD, triggered by the loud noises and that countless pets and wild animals that are traumatized it are fine either. —Mike
Ally July 5, 2020 (1:03 pm)

Ok Free, guess it’s all about you, selfish entitled childish, I could go on and on. You make me sad you live here
Plf July 5, 2020 (1:09 pm)

Ok Free, tell that to the folks who lost their homes on California Swdoes something have to happen to you personally to understand the impact of someone’s action that is illegalyour behavior and perspective is selfish oh but wait it’s all about you,…right

Tracey July 5, 2020 (8:56 am)

I blame this largely on the city of Seattle. They have never enforced the law regarding fireworks and publicize this lack of enforcement on the news. Just one hefty fine issued per precinct on the 4th and people might think twice. It wouldn’t take a lot of SPDs time. If I owned that apartment on CA Ave, I might consider suing the city. I wonder if that would be possible?

Wsguy123 July 5, 2020 (1:40 pm)

They don’t enforce a lot of things.. moving violations, off leash dogs, etc. It has been going on for the last decade+ despite myself and others getting involved. We’re headed down the wrong path here. Entitled attitudes and no one being held accountable for their illegal or dangerous actions.

uncle loco July 5, 2020 (8:58 am)

It was a little quieter than I’m used to in my neighborhood. A bunch of slobs left a huge mess at Highland Park as usual but not as bad as years past. I got bored with fireworks in my early 20s and with the exception of one year I haven’t bought any since, always felt like it was just burning money. It seems that people have to take things to excess these days.

Annoyed neighbor July 5, 2020 (9:22 am)

2:30am, I had to go out and track down which of our lovely neighbors that was still setting of extremely loud fireworks. I told them people are trying to sleep, and they are startling the people around them who have PTSD. People with PTSD have to deal with enough of it before 10pm, but this was too much. Fortunately the neighbors apologized and stopped with the fireworks.

SAAlki July 5, 2020 (10:29 am)

I appreciate that SPD, Parks, SFD gave some latitude and let folks blow off some steam without intervening too heavily and I’m sorry it was hard for some. It’s ironic though that dog owners are complaining. Poop and colorful feces-filled bags left all over on the sidewalks, Alki beach and adjacent yards? Forcing elderly humans to step off the sidewalk to make way for the pooch? Dogs left inside, loudly barking for hours while you’re gone? Dogs chasing herons, eagles, fledglings on the beach? All on Alki. Every. Day. Also against the law.

miws July 5, 2020 (11:33 am)

SAALKI, “Given some latitude”? When have they ever NOT given TONS of latitude to those that set off fireworks? —Mike
Wsguy123 July 5, 2020 (1:36 pm)

Good point SAALKI. I was thinking the same thing. The community deals will illegal dog owner behavior every day, all day and into the night. I don’t light fireworks and I don’t have a pet. Fireworks may be illegal as well but it’s only for a couple of days out of the year..

Gatewood resident July 5, 2020 (10:48 am)

Anyone else awoken at 4:30am by some loud fireworks this morning?

Gatewood Too July 5, 2020 (3:56 pm)

Yep, we’re near Myrtle Reservoir Park and heard a flurry of activity (fireworks, then dogs barking) around 2:30 then again about 4:30.

Emy July 5, 2020 (11:01 am)

Huh weird, me and my 10+ year old cats slept just fine. Guess that has a lot to do with knowing the difference between fireworks and gunshots, and how your pets respond to your emotions.

KM July 5, 2020 (1:09 pm)

My pets and I also slept fine, though that doesn’t invalidate others’ experiences. My pets have always managed storms and fireworks with minimal problems, and their response is not necessarily linked to the owner’s emotions. I haven’t experienced trauma that cause issues for me personally, either. Not everyone is as lucky. The more we are considerate about our neighbors on SEVERAL issues, the more likely we are to be a strong community. We need to listen to others experiences without denying them based on our own.

Sunflower July 5, 2020 (11:55 am)

Orca whales choking on fireworks remnants in the sound, are saying, ‘no biggie, we don’t mind, we’re just nearing extinction, do whatever you want to our shared environment.’

👎

I hope the surfing beaver/muskrat survived the fireworks okay last night.

uncle loco July 5, 2020 (9:12 pm)

I hope those squirrels didn’t get their picnic interrupted.

Elizabeth July 5, 2020 (12:37 pm)

@Emy.. sounds like your cats haven’t suffered an abusive past. Lucky them.

Complain much? July 5, 2020 (1:25 pm)

I hope all of the folks that complain realize that after you pour your emotions out on the blog over the 4th of July fireworks your little rant will disappear. I’m willing to bet that your also the same folks that complain about the Blue Angels, Seahawk flyovers, parades and anything else that doesn’t fit your value system. Well guess what, it fits the majorities. By far. There were more people enjoying the 4th than not. More people being responsible than not and more people respecting their neighbors than not. If this is your platform to complain, thats cool, but realize your the dissenting opinion in an otherwise overwhelming majority. Is it perfect? Nope but thats America. Maybe go talk to your neighbor, put your old pet (that has no doubt survived just fine countless other 4ths), shut your windows, throw some ear plugs in and watch a movie. It isn’t about you. Is it illegal? Yep. I’m willing to bet though that the complainers have done plenty of petty illegal things they assumed no one would mind. Get over yourselves.

Duffy July 5, 2020 (9:26 pm)

You are delusional. Read the irony in your post, think critically, then come back and tell us what you have learned.
- Complain much? July 5, 2020 (10:57 pm)
  
  Duff, are you referring to the irony of my *rant*? I was just pointing out how ridiculous it is to complain on the blog and expect change. People have different opinions and views than those of the vocal minority who believe we should cancel the 4th. The overwhelming majority of people enjoy it responsibly. Just because I don’t think Orcas are choking on fireworks and Nutria are scared out of their wits doesn’t make me delusional or selfish. If you’re referring to the irony of an intolerance to others opinion I understand that. In fact, I’m calling out exactly that. @over it, your cancel mentality means a hill of beans to me. You’re assuming because I defend the 4th that I hold large gatherings and don’t wear a mask..that’s hilarious. I prolly don’t support BLM and vote Trump too huh? You’d be wrong all around. So @Duffy what I’ve learned is that if you post anything that goes against the virtue signaling of most but not all of the above posts, You’re gonna be called delusional, told to shut the f*%k up, and accused of holding mass gatherings with no masks. Got it.
Ally July 5, 2020 (10:20 pm)

Do you have any vets in your life, PTSD is real, you are selfish, irresponsible, mean to not understand the implication to those, get over yourself grow up be an adult and realize this is real to manyshame on you
miws July 6, 2020 (9:59 am)

…throw some ear plugs in and watch a movie.

Well, I suppose that would work with silent movies or even international movies with subtitles. Unless, the viewer(s) wanted to hear the accompanying music with the former, or the original-language spoken words and ambient sounds of the latter. —Mike

cr July 5, 2020 (1:56 pm)

many (but not most) people are ignorant and lack even the most basic empathy and consideration for others. pointing this out to them will not change them. they will only change if there is a steep fine or worse. that is why we need better firework prohibition laws and we need to enforce them. otherwise, we can look forward to the same thing next year. maybe someone will feel upset enough to start a petition to change city law. i will sign it.

Delridge Resident July 5, 2020 (4:22 pm)

What channels are available to us to demand the city and SPD take action and enforce the law? Large fines and community service as punishment for setting off fireworks (and leaving behind toxic debris), off-leash dogs, and mask violations would be a great start and are all unbelievably easy to catch. Given how often these happen throughout the year, I bet the fines could cover the cost of a bridge replacement…

ScubaFrog July 5, 2020 (7:48 pm)

That was a long night, it was as loud as a firefight until early am here on Alki. I’m just grateful my home didn’t catch on fire, and no one died. I was super bummed to see that one building catch on fire. There’s no way for the SPD to enforce this, if a significant portion of the city’s going to break the law, there’s nothing you can do but sit back. SPD got to the bigger calls, which was all they could do – and kudos to them. All-in-all a good night, considering.

Over It July 5, 2020 (9:33 pm)

@complain much shut the “F” up…… I would be fine with one damn night and shutting down at a reasonable hour for me that would be midnight ON the 4th! But as so many have stated this is now night 4 for some of us! I live in the heart of the junction and normally it’s very reasonable this year but this year is disgusting when a GD mortar goes off at 4:30 AM! AND here we go again! Immature adults who think it’s fine night after night to blow off their crap thinking of no one but themselves no doubt the same losers who refuse to mask up in public and most likely had large gatherings to show off how awesome they are in launching their loud annoying displays of what?

Kristin July 5, 2020 (10:14 pm)

Fireworks in residential neighborhoods are dumb and crass and stupid. And I think you’re an idiot for doing it and am rolling my eyes at the need to explode things for no reason. Seems infantile.But, y’know, if it was one or two days a year and stopped at midnight I would be fine with it. Still rolling my eyes but it wouldn’t bother me.Booms have been going off for a week here in Highland Park. I finally fell asleep last night at 1:00am only to be awoken at 1:45am with my whole house shaking from giant explosive nearby. I couldn’t catch my breath. My 4 year old came crying out of her room and we were all up until 3am when finally everyone calmed down enough to get some sleep. The 4 year old still got up at 7am. That’s what kids do.Today I picked up debris at Riverview in my 4-hours-of-sleep haze. It was gross. Our dog, who does better when he’s away from us and was boarded last night thankfully came home and now THERE ARE STILL BOOMS GOING OFF and I’m afraid he is going to have a heart attack. Luckily the kid, at least, seems to be asleep.Take better care of each other, Seattle. This is not how you show respect for your neighbors and community.

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