READER REPORT: One more ‘brush fire,’ for the record

| High Point | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Ethan sent the photo and report:

There was a fire at Walt Hundley Playfield this evening, almost certainly caused by fireworks. Saw your coverage of the fire by the pond down the street and figured you should know about this one too.

So far, the Real-Time 911 log for today has, citywide, 22 “brush fire” notations, 6 “rubbish fire” notations, 5 “bark fire” notations, and 2 “dumpster fire” notations. Seattle residential fires believed to have been caused by people using fireworks include the one last night in Arbor Heights as well as one Sunday in the Olympic Hills neighborhood.

Westie July 5, 2023 (10:34 pm)

Seems logical to stop selling fireworks to the general public. And hopefully… Over time… the stupidity of polluting the air ‘celebrating’ will become unpopular (as smoking cigarettes became unpopular) We need to protect the planet and the air that we breathe…. as well as stop terrifying both domestic and outdoor animals.

1994 July 6, 2023 (9:47 pm)

This is a good idea but will require negotiating with the Indian tribes. I have not seen any of the fund raiser firework shacks that used to sell fireworks so the general public is most likely making the drive to the Indian reservations to purchase the fireworks. I hope the Indians would be open to this idea to stop selling these potential incendiary items. After all, we all want to be good caretakers of the the land.

Alki resident July 5, 2023 (11:13 pm)

Our friends house ,with four kids and pets,, burned down last nite. Luckily everyone was saved but because of the selfishness of hundreds calling 911 for your brush fires, it took 35 minutes to get though to them to come save their home. I love the 4th as much as everyone else but this year, I’ve never seen so much recklessness asshats as I have this year. Can’t even enjoy this weather because I’m smoked out from the aftermath.Kudos everyone. Thank a firefighter next time you see one, as they never slept last night and were fully exhausted by sun up.

Mellow Kitty July 6, 2023 (12:30 pm)

*”Luckily everyone was saved but because of the selfishness of hundreds calling 911 for your brush fires, it took 35 minutes to get though to them to come save their home.”*Dude. Did you just blame people who called 911 about brushfires for your friend’s house burning down?The entitlement is strong with this one.

Sickofit July 6, 2023 (12:46 am)

It is almost 1 in the morning on a week night and folks are still blowing stuff up near Alki. I don’t understand this behavior or the lack of enforcement. If I wandered the neighborhood with an air horn at 1 AM I would be arrested but setting off explosives several days before and after a holiday is totally ok.

Chelsea P July 6, 2023 (3:09 am)

You must be new to the neighborhood! This is how it will be likely almost every night until about October… Based on my 5 years of living here
- Sickofit July 6, 2023 (10:52 am)
  
  Nah, not new. Been here 3 years now. It just continues to baffle me that people are so inconsiderate and that our law enforcement doesn’t do anything. Seems like writing a few tickets would pay for the over time, save our firefighters some headache, and overall improve the city.

WSDAD July 6, 2023 (5:45 am)

I live right down the street from this playfeild. This had to to have been a box fire work display. It was like 20 rockets and a fountain at the end. It was loud for good 5 min. That would definitely start a grass fire. The laws in Washington are kind of pointless if you can buy fireworks at reservations. What gets me is the trash. People just leave the firworks all over the ground. Fireworks are pretty to look at but the environment suffers in the end.

HS July 6, 2023 (6:32 am)

I heard but did not see a car speeding through the neighborhood and throwing fireworks. So I suspect that’s how this fire started.

anonyme July 6, 2023 (5:29 pm)

This is the new, trendy thing – driving around and throwing fireworks out of car windows – bombs that could kill or maim people or animals or burn down homes. I’m sure these young scholars are having meaningful discussions on the meaning of freedom and the Declaration of Independence as they do so.
- HS July 7, 2023 (6:54 am)
  
  Well, these are the kids that spent a formative part of their adolescence in a pandemic and that’s in addition to all the global issues they’re witness to. They’re doing destructive things – throwing fireworks into dry tinder, shooting bb guns out car windows, stealing cars… eating disorders for youth have skyrocketed. I’m concerned that what seems to be a large group of youth have lost hope.