WEST SEATTLE FOURTH OF JULY: Traffic alert and other night notes

10:08 PM: For the next few hours, we’ll be tracking emergency dispatches and other notes. First, two texters say Harbor Avenue-bound traffic is being blocked at/near the 5-way – we don’t have confirmation but suspect this is likely the diversion police have used in past years, when Harbor gets too jammed close to fireworks time.

So far tonight, no fires on the SFD log for West Seattle, fireworks or otherwise. We have heard some SPD dispatches for fireworks concerns such as “sparks landing on neighbor’s roof.” More updates ahead ..

10:23 PM: Via text and email, we’re told the diversion is happening up on Admiral too.

10:52 PM: Lake Union fireworks are over – per police managing crowds and traffic in the Lake Union vicinity – so Alki/Harbor should empty out soon. Meantime, we received this short email from Dee, addressed to “West Seattle/Fauntleroy Neighbors” – Dee writes, “We live 2 blocks up from the beach and do NOT enjoy your July 4 fireworks….so, please stop it.” Up here on the Gateleroy line, it’s been pretty constant for a few hours, but the pre-4th nights were quieter than past years (except for somebody in the Lincoln Park vicinity last night).

11:19 PM: Shared by Kevin Freitas via Twitter, a time-lapse view of the Lake Union fireworks:

#TimeLapse of tonight's #Seattle fireworks over Lake Union (as seen from #WestSeattle).@westseattleblog @KING5Seattle @KIRO7Seattle @fox13seattle @komonews @seattletimes #4THJULY pic.twitter.com/lZfyDB16B5

— Kevin Freitas (@kevinfreitas) July 5, 2022

Meantime, we have a bit of info about a “scenes of violence” SFD dispatch about an hour ago at California/Alaska. Initial dispatch said it was a woman possibly stabbed in the arm. SFD tells us a woman in her 60s was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. We don’t have info on the circumstances.

11:36 PM: We’ve had our first actual fire dispatch of the night – “dumpster fire” in the 3200 block of SW Avalon Way about 10 minutes ago. Just one engine. Don’t know if fireworks-related.

12:40 AM: Second fire call of the night – “illegal burn” at 11th/Webster. Also, just now, a police dispatch to the 6000 block of 31st SW, for a report of fireworks being set off by someone’s door. … A few minutes after that, an “FYI” type of dispatch – not assigned to any specific unit – “a report of fireworks being lit off at Westcrest Park.” (We were there long before sunset and saw/heard some of that.)

1:14 AM: Now a police dispatch to Alki for fireworks.

1:35 AM: Getting quiet out there, at least where we are. In Arbor Heights, there’s now a dispatch to an address near 45th SW and SW 100th, for “report of a trash-can fire in a driveway.”

Tom July 4, 2022 (10:16 pm)

Here it is right now

RickB July 4, 2022 (10:31 pm)

Settling in at home in White Center and there might be slightly less fireworks than in recent years? Still a ton though, and it’s early…

Buddy July 5, 2022 (7:53 am)

Hay, there is more fireworks then years before in white center area it sounds like a war zone past 2:00 am. People don’t follow the new laws that went into effect and instead just went to the Indian reservation to buy fireworks. The number to report people from setting off fireworks was totally a joke and useless. I feel that next year will just be a repeat of this year because people know that the police can’t do anything and won’t because they have other things to do.

Jort July 4, 2022 (10:47 pm)

Looks like it was cleared.

Hmmm July 4, 2022 (10:50 pm)

I wonder what it would be like if they were legal….Pretty loud over here by Home Depot.

Sydney July 4, 2022 (10:50 pm)

Why are they diverting traffic? Created 45 minute back up for those who need to go that way to get home

StopCuttingDownTrees July 4, 2022 (10:50 pm)

We have more fireworks than ever going off all around us near Roxhill and Arbor Heights. Bigger fireworks than in years past, too. Real crowd pleasers that shake the house.

Orb July 4, 2022 (10:51 pm)

Lots of fireworks still happening. What are y’all celebrating? I’m confused. Mass shootings, stripping of freedoms, and a country divided…?

Sam July 4, 2022 (11:02 pm)

It’s the 4th of July, we have one every year. You should try celebrating things too. It can be quite fun…
Canton July 4, 2022 (11:04 pm)

I dunno… maybe the end of monarchy and tyranny, and the rebirth of liberty?
- CAM July 4, 2022 (11:20 pm)
  
  I can only assume you’ve slept through the last 200 years.
- Orb July 4, 2022 (11:28 pm)
  
  Liberty? What a joke.
  - Ly July 5, 2022 (1:19 am)
    
    Liberty? For who? What a joke.
    - Canton July 5, 2022 (6:47 pm)
      
      It may help if you look up the definition.
    - Pessoa July 6, 2022 (7:16 am)
      
      Agreed. We live in a kleptocracy, governed by kleptocrats. Their message? Get back to work and and keep your head down. Liberty is an illusion.

Rocket July 4, 2022 (11:05 pm)

I had a dog for 13 years that made me really dislike the 4th of July. Before her I enjoyed it, life is a slow burn and the occasional punctuation is critical for proper emotional health. Now I have two daughters and no pets so I am very conflicted. I want joyful expression of life among community while also knowing that while life is a slow burn punctuated by the occasional explosive experience, sadly our country has a long history of smoldering oppression with weeks like the past couple that really sparkle. From this bias I understand, in the way that I am able, all those who dread this holiday and also those who still find joy on celebrating it in their way.

Admiral resident July 4, 2022 (11:05 pm)

W Marginal Way took us 45min to get through and we weren’t even that far back in the backup. At the 5 way intersection, police is merging the two lanes into one, while diverting onto delridge way Sw. It’s a mess. Admiral/California had police presence as well. Traffic mess all around. Admiral sounds alike a war zone too.

Yo July 4, 2022 (11:41 pm)

It seems like they’d have better luck curtailing fireworks on the waterfront if they’d just patrolled Alki Ave instead. Diverting inbound traffic just makes life harder for people who live here and there’s definitely still lots of illegal explosions.

KellyM July 5, 2022 (5:47 am)

Yeah…..that ban? Didn’t work. It seems like all the fireworks last night were of the reservation type, the huge booms. Not as many firecrackers, but hours of huge explosions. 32nd and Holden.

anonyme July 5, 2022 (8:58 am)

Agreed, most of the ‘fireworks’ these days are of the mini-bomb variety. It used to be about pretty colors that generated “oohs” and “ahs”; nothing joyous about bombs. I’m not hearing any birds this morning, not even crows.

22blades July 5, 2022 (7:15 am)

Thanks to Kevin Freitas for the time lapse! Nice to see from those of us working fourth. This is the last fourth I’ll have to work before retiring. Actually had two: one in Asia, crossed the dateline & had another in Hawaii.

Jason Pierre-Paul July 5, 2022 (9:20 am)

Hours and hours of noise at Alki last night, going past 2:00am: “booms” instead of “bangs”, too. Around 1:00am I started a stopwatch and counted the booms: the first two minutes there were 39 booms, so, averaging one every three seconds. I did it again maybe a half hour later and the count was 28.

Shrwd July 5, 2022 (6:36 pm)

Those who claim “It is only one day a year” don’t realize this. Fireworks leave permanent debris that cannot be cleaned up entirely. It affects people’s plan for the holiday because they need to stay home in case their homes catch on fire from their neighbor’s fireworks. They need to plan for their pets’ sedatives. In order to accommodate their neighbors’ obsession with fireworks, people are put in the position to be inconvenienced and suffer that lasts longer than “just one day”. The ban didn’t affect change at all. It only helped shine these selfish people’s true colors, willing to risk their neighbors’ safety and quality of life over their own “celebration” and “fun”.

miws July 5, 2022 (7:05 pm)

This, right here, Shrwd. The “one day a year” argument has always annoyed me. It isn’t, and they know it. Admittedly, this year wasn’t as bad as the past in my area as far as fireworks before the 4th. We’ll see as far as after. Just heard a firecracker go off a couple of minutes ago. (And, another). But, let’s just play “One Day a Year” for a moment, and pretend they only happen on the day of the celebration. So, you have the 4th of July, then another “One Day”. on New Year’s Eve”, and *several* “One Days” throughout Seahawks season whenever they score a touchdown or they win. Of course beyond the noise that affects so many; humans, pets, and wildlife, there is the smoke. I closed up all my windows around mid-afternoon as soon as I started hearing repetitive fireworks. Even so, I could smell, and my diseased lungs could feel the smoke that made it into my apartment. And, before anyone puts the burden on me and says I should go somewhere on the 4th if the fireworks are so bothersome; where would that be? I’m sure it’s pretty bad everywhere. Oh, and a couple more important points; I have no personal transportation, and am on full-time supplemental oxygen. So, anyone that wants to recommend that, better be ready to put me up at a hotel, downtown next year, including transportation down and back, that is designed well enough to keep outside noises out… —Mike
Rhonda July 5, 2022 (7:15 pm)

Every attempt to ban them or restrict them has only made it worse. 30 years ago when they were legal in Seattle they were smaller, didn’t shake the whole house, and didn’t go on until 3am. Now they simply buy bigger, much more dangerous explosives from the reservations that rival the shells the pros use. We need to legalize them again so we can better regulate them via designated set-off locations and times.

Sorry, comment time is over.