337 Replies to "UPDATE: Fireworks off Bainbridge Island startle thousands"

• S. Jackson September 16, 2023 (9:38 pm)

  Yup! I’ve heard it’s an annual thing put on by some Bainbridge Island family – but why tonight?

  • Rumbles September 17, 2023 (12:29 am)

    Oh, boy…. here come the complaints for the loud display that lasted 20 minutes.  Guess what folks, it’ll probably happen next year too and it will be on a Monday due to leap year.  So, take a nap that afternoon as it will surely disrupt your sleep and prevent you from getting to work!

    • JUMPER September 17, 2023 (11:29 am)

      Does anyone have the contact information for the person(s) responsible for the fireworks?  Curiosity has the best of me. 

      • Nora Smith September 18, 2023 (8:35 am)

        Ah they are back was wondering where they were . It’s Mom’s BirthdayIT WAS MINE TOO HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR….

    • PJH September 17, 2023 (11:55 am)

      I wish I had known what it was. Went around closing all my windows and securing my outdoor furniture.  Next time, publish a notice as a courtesy  

  • waikikigirl September 17, 2023 (7:01 am)

    “But why tonight” you ask, maybe September 16th is a memorial date for them.  

  • Siouxsie September 17, 2023 (8:52 am)

    Could be for Mexican Independence Day.

  • Javier Fosado September 17, 2023 (8:55 am)

    Yesterday was Mexican Independence Day so I’m guessing that’s a possibility as to why September 16th. 

  • Reddit detective September 17, 2023 (11:43 am)

    I posted further down but will add here for visibility… it’s NOT confirmed, but some people on Reddit were able to do some detective work and found that it appears Ed Scripps’s yacht was present for both displays (last year and last night) and the Scripps family also has a history of pyrotechnics here in Washington so seems likely it could be him/the Scripps family.

    • Eric September 18, 2023 (5:01 pm)

      He had no such involvement.  And his boat was not there. He isn’t even in the state. The family you are speaking of did a fireworks show on their private island in the SJI. Let’s not spread false information. 

  • Roger September 17, 2023 (11:50 am)

    It was a New Year’s celebration. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is listed on my calendar. 

• Doodles September 16, 2023 (9:39 pm)

  Probably unrelated but there was also a helicopter flying over Fairmount Park area… 

• AN September 16, 2023 (9:39 pm)

  It’s been going on for about 20 minutes 

• Rae September 16, 2023 (9:40 pm)

  

• Ishanika September 16, 2023 (9:41 pm)

  

• Rachel September 16, 2023 (9:41 pm)

  

• Jenny September 16, 2023 (9:42 pm)

  Aren’t fireworks illegal within King County? This is a huge amount of illegal fireworks going off! It sounds like a war zone exploding out there….!

  • WSB September 16, 2023 (10:07 pm)

    This wasn’t King County.

    • Fay September 18, 2023 (8:56 am)

      In What county is Blake Island? Kitsap? The fireworks were definitely coming from a barge off Tillicum village, which has been closed for quite awhile. But it has the facilities to host a private party, if necessary.

      • WSB September 18, 2023 (9:30 am)

        Yes, Kitsap County. It’s also a state park. As for where the viewers were, we’ve heard from some that there were several yachts in the area (I didn’t think to check MarineTraffic until it was way too late) and the intended spectators MIGHT have been on those.

  • Boop September 17, 2023 (12:16 am)

    Jenny, Bainbridge Island is in Kitsap County.  

  • Jonathan COLBY MCFALL September 17, 2023 (5:48 am)

    Jenny I was on Myrtle Edwards Park about  2 football fields from the mill directly across from this show with my young puppy running off leash it was a very well done display and for explosive impact it was fairly tame…. you should move to lets say Maine!?

    • alkiannie September 17, 2023 (9:36 am)

      This is an unnecessary and rude comment. this show disturbed hundreds of thousands of people and animals (including wild animals). To say explosive impact was tame – when it could be heard all the way in Edmonds and Redmond is ridiculous.

      • LS September 18, 2023 (11:38 am)

        Agree.  Selfish of these wealthy individuals responsible.  Typical though.

• Sarah September 16, 2023 (9:44 pm)

  https://www.kuow.org/stories/what-were-those-fireworks-all-about-today-so-farThis has to be it. A private birthday celebration, which also happened last year on the same weekend. 

  • Steve September 17, 2023 (3:23 pm)

    It’s a free country, the one’s responsible got the permits yada, yada, yada but if this is for a birthday it’s a real jerk move and incredibly selfish. Something that substatially disturbs so many for the benefit of one is not acceptable in any society. Noise pollution, air pollution, water pollution, legitimate distress to people and animals. All for one person. If everyone set off tens of thousands dollars of fireworks on their birthday we would live in a warzone. What a jerk move.

    • brandis September 18, 2023 (6:13 am)

      I totally agree with you – it was worse here because we could not see the fireworks so couldn’t identify the cause – it sounded like warfare, my dogs were terrified and so was I!!! How can someone be so selfish as to subject a whole city to the chaos of his party?!! He should have at the very least, invited us.

• Navianna September 16, 2023 (9:44 pm)

  It’s way too close and loud to be coming from Bainbridge Island!

  • Boop September 17, 2023 (12:18 am)

    But, that’s where it’s coming from, ask Jenny.  

  • J hart September 18, 2023 (3:48 pm)

    All depends on the bell curve of energy and how the wind blows the sound.  Some mornings I can hear the anthem at naval station everett, some mornings quiet.

• Ly September 16, 2023 (9:44 pm)

  Private fireworks. People reporting they can hear it as far as Bellevue. 

  • Paul September 16, 2023 (11:58 pm)

    I could hear the booming and I live in East Bellevue not too far from Lake Sammamish!

  • Emily September 17, 2023 (9:09 am)

    We heard it in Sammamish.

    • Ly September 17, 2023 (6:10 pm)

      Sammamish!! That’s bonkers. My kid and few of his friends woke up, asked if we are under attack. 

• Doug Leary September 16, 2023 (9:44 pm)

  From Alaska Junction I can see them over the tops of the houses to the west, looking toward a little north of Vashon.  

• Mich September 16, 2023 (9:45 pm)

  In Gatewood– I just heard a very long rumbling sound, almost like thunder for the past 20 min. Hoping it’s these fireworks b/c if it’s not that what else could it be?

  • Alki neighbor September 17, 2023 (9:30 am)

    I actually noticed it b c it sounded like thunder and lightening. It appeared to be fireworks, but the sound was different than any fireworks I’ve heard before. At one point, it straight up sounded like a thunderstorm. Would be interested to know what kind of fireworks sound like this…

• Bob C. September 16, 2023 (9:45 pm)

  I could see them and hear them. I think they were from South Baibridge island. Some private event foreworks! 

• Just wondering September 16, 2023 (9:46 pm)

  Enough !

  • Boop September 17, 2023 (12:19 am)

    Of the complaining?  I agree!

    • Cat girl September 17, 2023 (6:39 am)

      It really bothered a lot of people. Fireworks upset pets, wildlife, children, set off ptsd in veterans, and obviously aren’t enjoyable for many people. We’re allowed to express our opinions and anger. It’s 6am and my cat is still hiding because she was so freaked out. 

      • Julie September 17, 2023 (9:44 am)

        Are you also outraged on Independence Day and New Years Day? 

        • sam-c September 17, 2023 (2:38 pm)

          Absolutely not annoyed on 4th or NYE.   On those occasions, we’re prepared (including this year when we boarded the dog in a more quiet area)  On those occasions, the whole family knows what to expect.  Unlike this time, where the kids were home alone texting us to try and figure out what the ominous  booms were (“doesn’t sounds like fireworks, it’s too low of a deep rumble/ boom, and it’s too regular to be thunder- what’s happening”) I’m also annoyed there wasn’t any advance notification, I could have gone to enjoy them also. I love fireworks.  Not all of us have the privilege of a view to figure out on our own what the noise was.

        • J hart September 18, 2023 (3:50 pm)

          Probably,  not everyone can handle that sound, plus is they were ever in a war it’s intesified.

• Chelsea September 16, 2023 (9:46 pm)

  I have no idea!!! Went on for at least 10 minutes!! Somewhere north of us on Thistle and 39th. 

• Tom Stoner September 16, 2023 (9:46 pm)

  Looks like Manchester.

• Gman September 16, 2023 (9:47 pm)

  That was one BIG fireworks show!

• UncleTorvald September 16, 2023 (9:47 pm)

  Wow!  Quite the impressive show from our house on Beach Drive.  20 or 30 minutes worth at least!

• Xavier September 16, 2023 (9:47 pm)

  Of a barge just N of Blake Island.I have video.

• steve September 16, 2023 (9:48 pm)

  …more like the north end of blake.   From manchester was watching  the unusual nav lights of some boats  thinking it was fishing then blam blam.  Yup, amazing

• Kbota September 16, 2023 (9:49 pm)

  I’ve lived here for a long time, never heard OR felt booms like that since the Kingdome imploded.

• Keiland September 16, 2023 (9:49 pm)

  Looks like kuow had story about a private fireworks show happening on the same day 2 years ago. https://www.kuow.org/stories/what-were-those-fireworks-all-about-today-so-far

  • WSB September 16, 2023 (9:53 pm)

    Don’t bother clicking – I just did and they had no actual information, other than that it was a private show off Bainbridge, which we have since verified.

• Darus September 16, 2023 (9:49 pm)

  Not sure, but what a great show! I live in belltown and when I heard the incessant rumbling I ran up to the rooftop to be treated with a lovely display of pyrotechnics!  #poorwhales

• Odd son September 16, 2023 (9:49 pm)

  The sound is more “rumble -y” than in previous years.

• Jeremy September 16, 2023 (9:49 pm)

  Same question! It was a great show! The wife and I caught it from our deck and could see them launching from a barge. Possibly near Fort Ward???

• WSB September 16, 2023 (9:50 pm)

  It’s Bainbridge Island. Rather, it was. Finally was able to update, sorry, the site crashed with tens of thousands of people trying to find out what’s going on (we just keep trying to make this crashproof and haven’t succeeded yet). Who the “private” party was, don’t know yet.

  • Beth L September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

    Sorry we blew up your website! It’s just that we all know where to go for answers to our neighborhood questions! Thank you WSBlog! You’re the best!

    • Hannah September 16, 2023 (10:15 pm)

      Exactly!! WSB truly is the GOAT!!

  • JeffK September 16, 2023 (10:51 pm)

    Must be a 1 percenter!

  • Molly September 17, 2023 (7:36 am)

    Hey WSB, have you thought about hosting your site through an online cloud so that you don’t have the site crash every time something big happens? Most of the big cloud companies have online hosting for sites just like your blog that just allow the traffic to handle big increases. 

    • WSB September 17, 2023 (9:24 am)

      It already is hosted that way. Again, we apologize and will work on upgrading yet again …

      • Molly September 17, 2023 (3:40 pm)

        It’s hosted online? I remember you saying you have both Comcast and Centurylink to make sure the site stays up in case of outages, which would point to you having managed hosting via wordcloud or the like, and having traffic run through a single server. If you do cloud hosting (aka amazon web services or oracle cloud infrastructure), the servers are constantly load balanced and so the site will not go down because there is an increase in traffic. Cloud hosting is much cheaper than how you might be using the site currently, and less likely to crash when a big event like this happens. Just letting you know (I’m sure you’ve already looked into these things!) but if you’d like to talk more or look into these things just let me know. 

        • WSB September 17, 2023 (5:57 pm)

          Thank you. The redundancy in ISP has nothing to do with the hosting, it’s so we can get online to update (and access the rest of the internet), in case one or the other goes down (we also have multiple cell providers for the same reason, so we have at least four potential ways to access the internet). Our site is in the cloud via Linode (taken over last year by Akamai), and our technical consultant will be sleuthing why it crashed, and what we can do to avoid that … TR

• J September 16, 2023 (9:51 pm)

  The fireworks can be heard as far away as Kirkland and the CD. They should’ve notified more cities than just Bainbridge. They shouldn’t even be allowed to do this. 

  • WS Rez September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

    We live in a world where “should” and “shouldn’t” is a function of the balance in your bank account. 

  • GHO September 16, 2023 (10:02 pm)

    Agreed! That was wayyyy bigger than other private shows. Poor animals and those with ptsd. I usually like the professional shows, but found myself muttering “shut up” after a while. Obnoxious.

    • Foust, ron September 16, 2023 (10:41 pm)

      What a waste of $$$

      • waikikigirl September 17, 2023 (7:08 am)

        Well its not your money and people can do what they want with their hard earned money. 

        • alkiannie September 17, 2023 (9:38 am)

          Not if it disrupts 100’s of thousands of other people and animals.

        • Jay September 17, 2023 (1:31 pm)

          Nobody with that much money earned it through hard work.

        • John September 17, 2023 (8:11 pm)

          JayI could afford it. I was born in poverty. Lived in a house without potable water, indoor toilets and heated with coal.I live in America where you can succeed if you work hard and get a few breaks. No place like that other than America.And I LIKED THE FIREWORKS 

        • waikikigirl September 17, 2023 (5:16 pm)

          @JAY do you think to have “that much money” wasn’t hard work, not every one with lots of money had it laid in their lap?

  • EirHaus September 16, 2023 (10:07 pm)

    Agree, J!

  • Elle September 17, 2023 (1:20 am)

    Agreed!

  • J hart September 18, 2023 (3:53 pm)

    It all depends on how the wind blows and that good old bell sound. (Think Mt. St. Helens), could hear that mountain blow up in Bellingham (woke us up in the dorms) atmosphere is a crazy thing.

• Z wSea September 16, 2023 (9:51 pm)

  looked to be a barge off Manchester launching in threes. 30 years since something I’m guessing?

  • WSB September 16, 2023 (9:52 pm)

    No, it was off south Bainbridge.

• Sue T. September 16, 2023 (9:52 pm)

  Whew! Thanks, WSB, for the reassurance that I didn’t just imagine all that carpet bombing noise echoing in the distance.

• Westsea September 16, 2023 (9:52 pm)

  That’s one hell of a “private display”!!

• Jeff September 16, 2023 (9:53 pm)

  The Bainbridge Island Fire Department has been informed of a private fireworks show being held in Puget Sound south of Bainbridge Island on the evening of September 16, 2023.  This display will be located outside of Bainbridge Island’s jurisdictional area and is under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. This event is similar to a display held last year. The commercial operator, retained by a private entity for the event, holds a General Display Fireworks License and Pyrotechnic Operator License issued by the Fire Protection Bureau of the Washington State Patrol. Appropriate permits have been issued by the Seattle Fire Department for the loading of fireworks and with U.S. Coast Guard approval for a Marine Event. No additional permits are required. You can expect noise associated with commercial fireworks that evening beginning around 9:30pm. Please do not call 911 with any complaints. Let’s keep those lines open for emergency reporting.

  • WSB September 16, 2023 (9:58 pm)

    That’s the text of the notice I linked above.

• Bob September 16, 2023 (9:53 pm)

  I watched this from our home overlooking Lincoln Park.  It was loud….hard to imagine it was this loud if emanating from Bainbridge.  It seemed very close. Could it have been the north end of Blake Island?  Who would have been celebrating, and what would they have been celebrating, to have organized, and permitted, a 20 minute explosive demonstration like this on September 16th?

  • WSB September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

    Rereading the Bainbridge post from two days ago, they said it was south of the island. But looking from the end of our street, it looked pretty much like south Bainbridge, though of course the island outline isn’t visible at this hour…

    • Bob September 16, 2023 (10:25 pm)

      The Coast Guard only  has authority to issue permits affecting Navigation.  So, if this was launched from a barge over water, their permission reflects their certification that the event would not affect Navigation by other vessels using the waterway where the barge was located.

      Did the Coast Guard coordinate with the other State and Federal agencies tasked with regulating impacts to air quality, water, noise, and……most importantly..wildlife?

      I love fireworks, and it only took me 3 or 4 minutes to realize nothing bad was happening, but what was the purpose and need for this display?

      As well intentioned as they may have been, were there other permits that this private entity failed to obtain?

      • T September 17, 2023 (8:18 am)

        It was Mexican Independence Day yesterday, I assumed that’s what the fireworks were celebrating but is just my guess 

        • Katrina September 17, 2023 (11:27 am)

          Per other comments above, private birthday celebration (! ) 

• MW September 16, 2023 (9:53 pm)

  Definitely stinks of pulling rank over the have-nots. Sheesh. “Was it worth it?”

• Mugz September 16, 2023 (9:54 pm)

  Horrible sounds can be heard from the centra district of Seattle. It actually hurts

• MH September 16, 2023 (9:54 pm)

  There were so many people standing in the Junction trying to pull up the blog- we all knew you’d know what it was! 

  • WSB September 16, 2023 (9:56 pm)

    Yeah, I fell down our front stairs trying to get out to where we can see across the water at the end of the block. Until I saw that it was fireworks, it was so concussive I wondered if something was happening with naval munitions over there …

    • G September 16, 2023 (10:45 pm)

      Exactly, sounded more like thunder or bombing than a fireworks show. I too was reassured when it was fireworks. But I am left here wondering why a private party can make such disruptive noise that affected hundreds of thousands of people. It totally disrupted our peace across the city tonight. 

    • alkiannie September 16, 2023 (11:27 pm)

      I hope you are OK (fell down the stairs you say?).

      • WSB September 16, 2023 (11:46 pm)

        Short front stairs, grabbed the shrubbery to break the fall. Not too much the worse for wear. Gotta get a handrail one of these days.

        • Suzanne September 17, 2023 (4:16 am)

          Took the plunge (so to speak) and hired a great contractor to install a super sturdy wrought iron handrail several years ago.  Expensive but worth every penny. It’s one of the best investments in my safety and my visitors I’ve made. I hope you do this for yourselves. You’ll never regret it. 

    • Compassion Neighbor September 17, 2023 (6:21 am)

      THANK YOU WS Blog for the outstanding job getting facts for us during a confusing time, especially after a fall downstairs (hope you are OK), and website crash. Your dedication is appreciated! 

    • waikikigirl September 17, 2023 (7:17 am)

      OH NO just read that you fell and see you said you are OK. Make sure to rest today (Sunday) because you will be sore!AND YES get handrail for your steps!

    • 1994 September 17, 2023 (9:26 pm)

      My thoughts too – the shipyard or the navy station having a very bad night. The Coast Guard, as a courtesy to hundreds of thousands of residents if not a million plus, could have issued a public announcement to alert us of this private event that would actually impact hundreds of thousands of people  if not a million! Certainly was not private!

• Vee September 16, 2023 (9:55 pm)

  Was wondering,  very loud, people should have been notified,  many probably dont even know and are worried 

• Gatewood September 16, 2023 (9:55 pm)

  https://youtube.com/shorts/q7BAgvG1VVw?si=FLR01zN-ZZ-lILuM

• Jelo September 16, 2023 (9:55 pm)

  Are people hearing the rumbles all the way on the Eastside? Kirkland Bothell and north in Snohomish county? It’s where I live and I hear rumbling or I did from about 9:20 to about 945. Seems too far but someone suggested this is what I was hearing.

  • Alki local September 17, 2023 (9:39 am)

    This is my point in all this. I initially looked out my window b c it sounded like a civil war. I stared for awhile before I realized it was fireworks, but it sounded like either thunder and lightening or an old time war, not traditionally wounding fireworks, my question is why? Finding out here that people heard them all the way in Bellvue makes me wonder even more. What ever with what people want to do, but allowing a display that affects the entire Seattle metro area?? This seems odd to allow such a thing and makes me wonder if there’s something more to it than just fireworks…keep alert all, also maybe start questioning why they are allowing military Helicopters to fly directly over civilian air space (since COVID lockdowns). This is done all hours of the day and night, have seen them midnight and after and they are loud as heck. From a former active duty flyer, this is not suppose to happen. Things change, but this should definitely be questioned as well. 

    • ConcernedInAdmiral September 17, 2023 (11:05 am)

      Truly appreciate your insightful comment!

    • Dennis Lindell September 17, 2023 (6:08 pm)

      I see both sides of this. I am a pyro, but we usually get permission in rural areas.  There should be state jurisdiction over these types of events, when they fall through municipalities.  If you are upset about this, contact your state and federal lawmakers

  • J. Hart September 18, 2023 (3:57 pm)

    So used to loud noises here in Everett haha. Just had Mukilteo lighthouse festival one week ago, big fireworks show louder than I remember. Good thing my dog is getting older, he doesn’t seem to care anymore.  The street racing on my hill more or less kills the noise.

• Leesa September 16, 2023 (9:55 pm)

  Not gonna lie, the sounds freaked us out a bit because we couldn’t make sense of them. With the state of our world today, I was definitely thinking of worse things than fireworks from BI. 

  • Sam-c September 17, 2023 (6:54 am)

    Same. Very disconcerting.

  • Molly September 17, 2023 (7:42 am)

    Exactly the same. And when all I could see was some bright flashes in the sky that were different colors and sounded like they were getting closer, I was worried it was an attack. It took my husband (who grew up in war zones) waking up and asking wtf it was and then listening and saying it’s fireworks to calm me down. The adrenaline of that fear kept me up for much longer than I wanted to be up 

  • Ly September 17, 2023 (6:13 pm)

    Same. Kids woke asking if we’re being attacked or bombed. This was obnoxious. 

• Sue H September 16, 2023 (9:56 pm)

  When I couldn’t get into the site I checked Twitter or whatever it’s called to see if you posted about it and I was glad that you did. I shared that on Facebook and one of my friends said she could hear it up in Port Ludlow and was wondering what was happening. I couldn’t see it from my apartment but I certainly could hear the rumbling.

• Robin Sinner September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

  One year anniversary of West Seattle bridge reopening tomorrow. That fireworks show last year started within minutes of the bridge opening to traffic.

• H September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

  Thanks for the unexpected panic attack! 

• KL September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

  So fun! Thanks to the people on Bainbridge who shared their celebration with all of us! What a beautiful and festive treat on a random Saturday night.

  • Ly September 17, 2023 (6:14 pm)

    Many disagree.

• Caseyc September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

  Here is a hyperlaspe of most of the showhttps://youtube.com/shorts/q7BAgvG1VVw?si=FLR01zN-ZZ-lILuM

• Teresa Elkinton September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

  Looks like it happened last year too.   See story- https://www.kuow.org/stories/what-the-heck-was-that-rumbling-sound-across-north-seattle-on-saturday-night?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_id=427179&sfmc_id=23982292&sfmc_subkey=0031C00003Cw0g8QAB&utm_content=NL+Today+So+Far+-+Dyer

• TJ September 16, 2023 (9:57 pm)

  Why shouldn’t they be allowed to do this? It sounded scary? It was a 20 minute show. 

  • Denise September 16, 2023 (10:06 pm)

    Fireworks are illegal in King County. Therefore, if Bainbridge is going to authorize a huge display for private parties, maybe they should be contained to a size/noise limit that isn’t so disturbing that people across the Sound don’t think it’s a bombardment. Also, why should they be allowed to do this? Just because they want to make a bunch of noise? I guess that’s fair, after all, why shouldn’t everyone be able to do anything they want at any time, it isn’t like huge booming noises have any detrimental effects on the animals, marine life, children, pets. mentally ill people, etc.

  • Lue23 September 16, 2023 (10:16 pm)

    “Why shouldn’t” people be allowed to do this, you say?Gee, idk, because it’s obnoxious and disrespectful of others? It disregards their right to peace in their own homes nevermind how it literally terrorizes and kills wildlife.  It re-traumatizes those with PTSD . Small things like that. But glad you thought the lights were cool.

    • Resident September 16, 2023 (10:37 pm)

      If the litmus test around being able to do, some thing is whether it’s annoying or not and impacts other people or not man let’s start with a lot of other bigger issues before we even get to the fireworks.

      • alkiannie September 17, 2023 (9:41 am)

        It doesn’t have to be ‘either/or’ Resident. We can address fireworks that scare the crap out of people and animals, too.

• Mike September 16, 2023 (9:58 pm)

  Mexican independence day celebration?

• shed22 September 16, 2023 (9:58 pm)

  Outside of thinking we were being bombed, along with WSB shutting down, I was delighted to catch the last part of the fireworks show. Absolutely stunning. A wonderful way to celebrate the end of summer. Maybe more warning so we could all enjoy the show without being terrified. 

  • GTWD September 16, 2023 (10:03 pm)

    We’ll have to put a calendar reminder for next year. Would it be on the weekend? A sat again? 

    • Monica September 16, 2023 (10:41 pm)

      I put it in my calendar for next year…. Sat before this date and after. I want to be prepared next time…as an Alki resident.  I ran out in pajamas and with only one cocktail….next year I’m going to be ready!! Great show!

      • Jenny September 17, 2023 (12:38 am)

        I’m 100% with you and felt exact same Monica!

      • Ash September 17, 2023 (8:39 am)

        We should plan some kind of annual viewing party (maybe at Alki). I assume they will alert the Bainbridge Island FD again so they can put out a notice to prevent calls about it. Why not take this event by the haves and make it something the “have nots” can enjoy too. 

• Deniece September 16, 2023 (9:58 pm)

  That was horrible.  Trying to put our daughter to bed and kept hearing booms.  Went outside and could only see flashes of red on the horizon in the direction of Bremerton.  It was very scary because we had no idea what was going on.  Dogs were going crazy too, so pet owners also couldn’t prepare.  This shouldn’t be allowed without at least some kind of advance notice to neighboring areas.  This isn’t the 4th of July.  The private citizen who did that seems very selfish and ignorant of the impacts on everyone else.

  • Sarah September 17, 2023 (9:08 am)

    Same in my house. My kid and dogs were freaking out and we had no notice to prepare them, usually on the 4th we give our dogs anxiety meds. Also, had no idea what it was at first and that was terrifying.

    • Ly September 17, 2023 (6:16 pm)

      Same! Obnoxious and startling. Kids were terrified. Horrible and intrusive sounds. 

• Lisa September 16, 2023 (9:59 pm)

  Thought something was wrong with our subwoofer. 🤪 Lol! Finally figured it out and walked outside to watch the show from North Admiral. Thanks to whoever threw that spectacular free show. Wow!! 🤩🎉

• Sdran September 16, 2023 (9:59 pm)

  That was insanely loud, our whole place was shaking. Glad it was just fireworks and that it’s over

• Seaview September 16, 2023 (10:00 pm)

  Our three cats disappeared as soon as it started and I’m still waiting for them to come out of the basement. 

• raincity September 16, 2023 (10:01 pm)

  Agree with others a courtesy warning would have been nice as there were portions where it sounded more like munitions and was frightening.

• Libra September 16, 2023 (10:01 pm)

  Amazing show…..south of Bainbridge—closer to Manchester.  Thanks to whoever put it on!

• Mseklem September 16, 2023 (10:02 pm)

  What a FABULOUS SHOW! The best we’ve seen in years!

  Thanks to who ever put it on for the unexpected treat!  Our pooch was a little upset at first – but we cuddled him and all is well now.  Though he’s staying very close by for now.

• WhyIsThisAllowed? September 16, 2023 (10:03 pm)

  So happy a small group of rich jerks were able to make so much noise that we could all hear it inside our houses in West Seattle.  Enough people were concerned that the blog crashed. No advance notice, no times or information. Can’t imagine living next door.  Why is this allowed. Oh, right $$$$$$

  • Resident September 16, 2023 (10:40 pm)

    It’s allowed because it’s legal. Do you wanna go light some fireworks over in another county that allows it go for it.

    • Rusty September 17, 2023 (12:50 am)

      Why it is legal is the topic. We aren’t discussing whether it is or not. 

      • America September 17, 2023 (7:36 am)

        It’s legal because we live in a free country. But it seems like everyone has forgotten this. Fireworks are mainly banned due to the potential for starting wildfires. Fireworks on a barge pose no threat aside to those whose have sensitive ears and want something to complain about. Our society is constantly putting restraints on others because “its annoying” or simply because “i dont like it” well suck it up butter cup. We have waaaaay bigger issues than fireworks iron a barge to deal with. Inflation, homelessness, affordable Healthcare, and many many more important topics than fireworks…

        • alkiannie September 17, 2023 (9:44 am)

          Don’t dismiss others’ fear and frustration because you don’t agree with it. We are a free country and we can get LOUD about our frustration with this stupid, selfish, environmentally toxic display of disgusting wealth –  and take measures to address things.

        • RT September 17, 2023 (10:15 am)

          The way bigger issues you note could be addressed, at least a little bit, by  directing some of the big bucks spent for that personal fireworks extravaganza to programs tackling those issues. 

        • Ly September 17, 2023 (6:19 pm)

          Free country to do stupid things that disrupt other people and be loud and obnoxious. 

• Scott collins September 16, 2023 (10:03 pm)

  There is info on Manchester facebook page…private show

• WSB September 16, 2023 (10:04 pm)

  Funny, checked the archives and we very briefly mentioned these fireworks last year, totally overshadowed because on this Saturday night last year (September 17th), the West Seattle Bridge reopened.

• Theo September 16, 2023 (10:05 pm)

  Definitely Bainbridge. I have a perfect view of Blake island and it was not over there.

• Laura September 16, 2023 (10:05 pm)

  I can’t imagine the horrible impact this had on wildlife in the region. Especially marine life. Our house was shaking near the junction, and this was happening on a boat – what must the sound and vibration have been under water?! It’s appalling that this was permitted. 

  • chad September 16, 2023 (10:45 pm)

    nah but u right. the jellyfish finna be so pissed

  • Lol September 16, 2023 (10:51 pm)

    Lol

• Karen B September 16, 2023 (10:05 pm)

  We live near Dawson, but inland, and had a good line of sight over our neighbor’s house/yard to the west. Based on sound and how these sounded different from fireworks on the 4th of July and New Years, we wonder if perhaps they were being launched from a boat.  The show did have some large impressive fireworks, but seemed rushed. Would have been nice if the organizers had given the broader community a heads-up that they planned to do this and about the potential noise and disruption for pets and those who might be startled by their activity and their timing. 

• Beth L September 16, 2023 (10:05 pm)

  It was an amazing display. I guess he did the modern-day equivalent of the Taj Mahal. 

• Joan September 16, 2023 (10:07 pm)

  It was loud and felt very close. I felt every boom. How selfish and arrogant for the amusement of a few. Scary for the rest of us.

  • Resident September 16, 2023 (10:42 pm)

    It was not selfish or arrogant. Get over yourself come on man.

• Redhook September 16, 2023 (10:08 pm)

  Shouldn’t be allowed to do this?! Whatever. It was an awesome show and a pleasant surprise. Actually nice to hear some cheers on random September Saturday.

  • Kayla September 16, 2023 (10:25 pm)

    Yes, should NOT be allowed to set off explosive display for absolutely no reason. Fireworks displays disrupt the environment for the local wildlife. It has deep impact on marine life. Usually nobody sticks around to clean up all the TRASH and garbage left behind – both from the display and the folks who are watching. It terrorizes people who are suffering from PTSD, like war veterans. It can be extremely stressful to people with children, especially autistic children. It can be very stressful for dogs and cats as well, some people routinely sedate their pets for big 4th of July events to alleviate this problem.

    But sure. I suppose you are right – the amusement of a few WEALTHY people far, far outweighs any other objections to this ridiculously oversized display of explosives.

    • Marty September 17, 2023 (12:20 am)

      Fireworks are bad for the environment. Period. You’re right.

      • Wes C. Addle September 17, 2023 (12:29 pm)

        So was building the whole city in 1851. Imagine the impact back then if we had a study!

        • the best September 18, 2023 (10:57 am)

          Oh this is the best comment I’ve seen so far.  Indeed all of us and the whole city are just horrible for the environment.  The hypothetical study back then would’ve shown so many trees/hills/creeks/wildlife/existing people devastated by the building of the city.

  • Deniece September 16, 2023 (10:27 pm)

    The majority of people who could hear the noise couldn’t see what was happening.  So, yes, they shouldn’t be able to do it and for many it was not a nice surprise – it was actually rather scary.

• Kat September 16, 2023 (10:08 pm)

  This wasn’t okay, we genuinely thought we were being bombed and were waiting for the emergency alert to come or… not come if you get my meaning. It was awful and shouldn’t have been allowed. Those were not normal professional fireworks those were too insane to be. I’ve seen hundreds of professional firework shows up close… they are not concussive like that. That had to be some serious explosives, dangerous explosives.

  • Resident September 16, 2023 (10:45 pm)

    We were being bombed by who? We have an Air Force Base and a naval base that would intercept any plane before it got into this area. I’m not sure what people are scared of here.

    • Me myself September 17, 2023 (12:15 am)

      Why are you so invested in invalidating everyone who doesn’t have the same world view as you? It’s fine that you liked this, but all the people that didn’t are equally entitled to their opinions. PTSD, terrified pets, kids that couldn’t sleep, general fear of unexpected LOUD AF booms of unknown origin are all totally valid, among other reasons, to be frustrated. Not to mention the fact that this turned out to be some rich person’s personal celebration affecting thousands of people and animals. Good for you if you liked it, but clearly not everyone feels the same.

    • Facts Matter September 17, 2023 (8:07 am)

      Just like the Air Force base was there to shoot down the China spy balloons? If you remember our Gov didn’t even know what it was, and then let unknown flying object drift across the entire country before shooting down in the Atlantic Ocean. 

    • Bradley September 17, 2023 (9:20 am)

      Resident, you must be too young to have lived on 9/11. 

      • Wes C. Addle September 17, 2023 (1:31 pm)

        I was here for 9/11 & we weren’t attacked by fighter Jets. 

        • bradley September 17, 2023 (5:21 pm)

          Again, Wes C Addle, another case of global ignorance.  You casually pass off the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians attacked on our country soil simply as “it wasn’t me”.    That’s pretty pathetic,

      • YES2WS September 17, 2023 (2:39 pm)

        Boy, no kidding. I sometimes forget how young some of the commenters may be

  • adam September 16, 2023 (10:53 pm)

    fr. i thought we were in a nuclear war. luckily it was just some jerk rich people on bainbridge

    • Wes C. Addle September 17, 2023 (1:32 pm)

      Nuclear strikes would be pretty silent, we’d be instantly vaporized. 

• Admiral-2009 September 16, 2023 (10:12 pm)

  Thank you for answering my question with out me asking!  Very noisy in NE WS..

• B September 16, 2023 (10:13 pm)

  At first, I thought it was the young twenties kids in my building blasting dubstep and I felt a rage inside of me that made me run outside to locate the sound. Then I thought it was heat ⚡️, but the timing was too rhythmic. Then I thought it was my upstairs neighbors. It has been a full adventure and I need some chamomile tea. 

  Also the thanks in these comments are mind blowing especially after reading how much it impacted people. Like, you good bro? Thanks for stressing thousands of ppl out is more accurate.

  • McGruff September 17, 2023 (12:49 am)

    Interesting you say you’re mind was blown by all the “thanks” in comments, HAAAAAAA!  I was not surprised to hear “Seattleites”complaints, but I was disappointed there were not more people getting up, out of their house, away from local news, to actually go outdoors to decipher if this was a FREE show for many of us to unexpectedly enjoy, or if heaven forbid, we were seriously facing a war of sorts. Wake up people, you can’t even help yourselves if you wanted to.  Start living and enjoying life and celebrating one another’s joys again.  It’s Saturday for goodness sakes. 

    • Frustrated September 17, 2023 (7:31 am)

      As someone with pets and PTSD, unexpected fireworks are NOT enjoyable… I try not to be anywhere near the city on July 4th and New Year’s, but there was absolutely no warning for this.This is also the 21st century, and we are aware of how much damage we do to the environment when things like this happen.. so WHY do more??

• Matthew Temblor September 16, 2023 (10:15 pm)

  WOW,, thanks for post I heard it all the way up in Edmonds! wondering WTH ? That was some serious boom boom.. sounded like WW3 Started from here..

• Phil Hansen September 16, 2023 (10:19 pm)

  I love Fireworks but I think they can be done by drones a lot now but either way I love to watch them

  • West seattle guy September 16, 2023 (10:47 pm)

    I think the booms are the best part. 

• BJG September 16, 2023 (10:22 pm)

  Never had this amount of noise with the Fourth fireworks on the peninsula. This was like endless volleys of thunder. We look straight over at Manchester and it seemed to be staged there. It would have been nice if my poor old dog had been premedicated. She’s a mess now. Very expensive and privileged private show!

• Melissa A September 16, 2023 (10:24 pm)

  Thank you WSB for keeping everyone informed. I was anxious not knowing what was happening while the blog was down. It was extremely unsettling, as I wasn’t sure what was happening. Wish the folks responsible would have had more courtesy to warn others that there was no danger.

• Vivian September 16, 2023 (10:24 pm)

  Man, that’s some privilege. If it was loud enough to hear on the Eastside how did that impact wildlife on Bainbridge? I’m sorry but I don’t think that should be allowed. 

• Gina September 16, 2023 (10:25 pm)

  I could see the tip top of the highest fireworks to the SW of Lander in Admiral, bet there was quite a view from the west facing apartments on California Ave!

• Stirling September 16, 2023 (10:26 pm)

  Greetings from across the Sound in Magnolia. Through a telescope it appears to have been a barge anchored approx 1/8 mile off the SSE end of BI.Delightful show regardless of whose fault it was. Cheers! ;-)

  • Mike September 16, 2023 (10:48 pm)

    Some of the party goers just returned to Elliot Bay Marina by you.  They have some pretty nice yachts, one is an ocean going Class A.

    • Stirling September 17, 2023 (12:01 am)

      Against popular belief, very few Magnolians actually own yachts (or know anyone who does). I certainly don’t and I’m from here.

      • Mike September 17, 2023 (5:42 am)

        I used to live in Magnolia too, I definitely didn’t own a yacht either.

    • Stirling September 17, 2023 (12:07 am)

      My guess is they were corporate-tech C levels from the Eastside. As are most EBM residents.

• Toot Hoot September 16, 2023 (10:27 pm)

  Hope you’re okay West Seattle Blog person.   So many people didn’t know what it was and thought it could had been an emergency and called 911, tying up those phone lines for real emergencies that needed them.  Seems like the event was inconsiderate. 

• Mr J September 16, 2023 (10:30 pm)

  Eat the rich.

  • Tired of this sh-t September 16, 2023 (10:49 pm)

    Yep. A lovely demonstration of repulsive behavior. 

  • flauntyleroy September 16, 2023 (11:15 pm)

    😘

  • Rhonda September 17, 2023 (12:19 am)

     Careful, Mr J……for a few billion people on Earth, YOU’RE the rich.

    • MW September 17, 2023 (9:32 am)

      Nice move, Rhonda! Wise words. AND THANK YOU WSB. We appreciate your diplomacy & all of your effort, even when you have to get back up and brush yourself off to get to the bottom of an important matter. Unstoppable!!

• Peter September 16, 2023 (10:30 pm)

  Terrible. This had my neighbors and I concerned and our pets scared. There’s so many other ways to celebrate without disturbing the entire region.

• Bee September 16, 2023 (10:36 pm)

  Seattle Mariners – Dodgers tied game. Going into the 10th inning and this ridiculous fireworks show goes off. No doubt the Shockwaves were such a distraction the Mariners Lost! Thanks Alot Loser

• Resident September 16, 2023 (10:38 pm)

  The people on this comment section need to get over themselves. Are you kidding me? This is what you want to complain about. This was a legal show and nobody got hurt. I worry about some thing worth your time not whether somebody is doing some thing you don’t like that’s legal.

  • B September 16, 2023 (11:28 pm)

    You’re a gaslighting king/queen –  congrats. You can’t tell people it didn’t matter when it did for them. Go to bed.

    • MarSean September 17, 2023 (12:05 am)

      Not gaslighting. By definition you are literally gaslighting yourself. When you wake up in the morning and your life will be the same except you’ll have something to complain about for the day.

      • B September 17, 2023 (11:07 am)

        Lmao what? People are allowed to have feelings? It’s not like I’m thinking about this all day? It was a shitty experience for many sorry that you can’t empathize. Maybe see a therapist. Xoxo

• Sill R September 16, 2023 (10:42 pm)

  Disturbing yet brilliant in its simplicity. All it takes to have a heck of a fire in the thick of a level 3 burn ban: “Notify the local fire station” and let it roar.

• Kathy O September 16, 2023 (10:48 pm)

     This is Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept 15th to Oct 15th. Based on the colors used in the fireworks display, my guess was that it had something to do with those celebrations. I watched them from Alki, and what a pleasant surprise I enjoyed it.

  • Becca B September 17, 2023 (1:38 am)

    Felices Fiestas Patrias!!!!!

• Mrs Shaw September 16, 2023 (10:55 pm)

  Aside from being absolutely furious at the M-80’s continuously detonated and trying to calm a distraught trembling dog, I was in a panic about the WSB being down and hoped that T&P were OK.

• K September 16, 2023 (10:56 pm)

  It has been over an hour and our dog is still pacing and shaking. If we had known, we would have prepared her medications. It infuriates me that one private party is allowed to cause a disturbance that carries over multiple districts.

• jim September 16, 2023 (11:00 pm)

  Well here are a couple of hand held picture ( not to steady though).

• Eero September 16, 2023 (11:01 pm)

  I think we deserve to know who did this. Might be legal but it ain’t right. If this guy wants to brag to the world how rich he is that he can afford a firework show so loud it shook our homes miles away, then we can know who he is. 

  • alkiannie September 16, 2023 (11:33 pm)

    Agree. Name. Please.

    • I Agree, who was it? September 17, 2023 (6:35 am)

      Surely someone will brag about “being there” I think Fireworks are supposed to be illegal in Kitsap next year, even for the filthy rich so hope it’s the last time.

• Chet September 16, 2023 (11:03 pm)

  We heard the rumbling up here in Shoreline, ten mile north.  I first thought of a terrorist attack or that a factory fire was blazing.  No flashes could be seen here, so it was a bit unnerving.  Warning must be given to most of Puget Sound before this next time.

• UnbunchYourPanties September 16, 2023 (11:05 pm)

  God I freaking loved that. Thanks to the people who gave us a free fireworks show. That was so awesome that they did something great for everyone. 

• WSMom September 16, 2023 (11:07 pm)

  Thank you WSB for quick investigation and response even after falling down your front stairs. I hope you are okay.  Lived in Belvedere neighborhood for 25 years and heard numerous private fireworks shows but nothing like this one has ever rattled our lights and triple pane windows. The beginning did not sound like fireworks but rather explosions. My son and I actually ran out of the house thinking something near us was exploding. After a couple of minutes it started to sound like fireworks but definitely not in the beginning. 

• MarSean September 16, 2023 (11:08 pm)

  I don’t know….I kinda liked it. 

• Claire September 16, 2023 (11:11 pm)

  This is TOXIC for the environment and it’s a ridiculous display of capitalism, selfishness, and a lack of care for the many people who live in the large area impacted by such obnoxious behavior. I wasted a half hour trying to figure out what this was and worried it was something more nefarious, like military actions… My question is, how the fuck can we make this illegal??

  • wscommuter September 17, 2023 (12:25 pm)

    Impressive rant; you got all anti-firework sins listed AND got your profanity to go with your anti-capitalism/anti-military screed.  Hope you feel better.  Great fireworks show.    We really enjoyed it.

    • BigPicture September 17, 2023 (10:34 pm)

      Is there part of you that cares about the well being of endangered species like the resident orcas who live in these waters? 

      • wscommuter September 18, 2023 (8:45 am)

        In the list of things which endanger our resident orcas, I’m pretty darn sure that one fireworks show is utterly unimportant.  So no, I’m not at all impressed by that argument.  

    • BigPicture September 17, 2023 (10:55 pm)

      “ The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”– Chief Seattle

• Rhonda September 16, 2023 (11:12 pm)

  GORGEOUS display. Who can we thank?

• ITotallyAgreeWithYou September 16, 2023 (11:23 pm)

  Obnoxious, disrespectful, and inconsiderate indeed! I’m in Queen Anne these days and just started fostering a cat w/ serious sound sensitivity and this happens. He was so stressed. Sounded like 20-30 minutes of thunder that no effort to shut out could minimize. I went outside and on the net to find the source-concert? fireworks?… nothing posted. We have a noise ordinance, why is it okay for a private citizen to  impose firework noise on hundreds of thousands? Next year, be considerate of  the pets and people you unnecessarily stress when making your party plans. Jerks.

• Standing Wave September 16, 2023 (11:24 pm)

  II do wonder if there was some sort of special acoustic situation going on maybe a set of clouds reflecting the noise towards us?  It was really, surprisingly loud to be so far away.  I had rattling windows in High Point.Anecdotally, I’ve noticed that some nights the clouds seem to reflect sounds up from the ferry docks or the trains in SoDo.  Anyone here have expertise in meteorological acoustic phenomena of Puget Sound?

  • Curious September 17, 2023 (12:58 am)

    interesting observation. from a cursory Google, it looks like cloud could cause sound waves to partially reflect when going from air to cloud like light going into a different medium and reflects some of the light back. don’t know if that is significant enough to get the loud booms we were hearing tonight, but interesting none-the-less!

• M September 16, 2023 (11:25 pm)

  They should have given us advance notice….mainly so I could have prepared to be home to watch the show from our condo deck!

  • Ashley September 17, 2023 (8:57 am)

    I think advanced notice would have helped a lot. People who wanted to watch could plan for it, people with anxious pets would have notice to give them anxiety meds, and people who were wondering if there was a war could have known in advance that it was just fireworks. It really did sound pretty ominous at first. 

    • JSP September 17, 2023 (8:35 pm)

      Agree that notice should happen so that people can take precautions for themselves and their pets. This doesn’t help the wild animals including orcas and dolphins of course. Others may want to know to simply enjoy the free show. We did once we located it on the horizon but could enjoy it because we could see it and knew what the sound was. Others who know sound better might elucidate, but am guessing the sound traveled so well because the fireworks were close to the water so that carried the sound further. 

• Cosa September 16, 2023 (11:29 pm)

  We were hearing the booms on south Squak Mt. in Issaquah. I was thinking it was more JBLM mortar exercises.

  • West side September 17, 2023 (9:55 am)

    This is why I would like to know what kind of “fireworks” these were. I think a newer technology is being tested and we are obliviously thinking it’s just plain ol fireworks. Anyone here recall a display that sounds either like the civil war or a thunder/lightening storm that can be heard as far away as this? It may have been pretty to watch, but someone feeling this, this far away, should make us all wonder. 

    • Gatewood September 17, 2023 (6:38 pm)

      These were just regular fireworks.they were just big ones. A typical one seen around 4th of July by regular people is a 2″ mortar commercial displays start at 4″ and go all the way up too 48″  these were very large mortars the bigger ones were likley in the 12-20+” range which are thousands of dollars each hence why they are not seen often and louder then most are used too.

    • Jethro Marx September 18, 2023 (11:15 am)

      I checked with Joe Rogan and RFK and they both confirmed what Alex Jones reported, which is that these new fireworks have 5G Covid Killer cells in them, and the Chinese government developed a new type of spicy pepper that uses AI to make your cat extra-sad too.  Next year just hop over to one of those guys’ website before the fireworks, I’m pretty sure they sell a powder to protect you from all the ill effects.

• C September 17, 2023 (12:09 am)

  Mostly heard but also was able to see some from our place in Interbay. Even the 4th of July isn’t that loud and unrelenting – it sounded like the whole thing went off uncontrolled by accident. It doesn’t matter that the Bainbridge FD put out a post two days ago – no one outside of Bainbridge would’ve seen that. 

• Gina September 17, 2023 (12:51 am)

  Reading the comments it appears to me that our community does not agree on the terms of our social contract. I have enjoyed reading the diversity of perspectives and appreciated the civility of discussion.

• Sue H September 17, 2023 (12:51 am)

  There’s a whole thread about this on Reddit where people are talking about finding out who did it and starting a class action lawsuit against them. 

  • Odd son September 17, 2023 (2:46 am)

    New Seattle level. 🤦‍♂️

• RichPeopleHateU2 September 17, 2023 (1:07 am)

  i like how the people talking down to others that complained about this mention that they had a great view of the show. most of us could not see it. acting just as haughty as the people who set the show up. you commenting here that you enjoyed it and thanking the people who set it up isn’t gonna get you an invite next year. trust me, they dislike you just as much as the rest of the poors. of course it’s legal… laws are made to protect capital, so no one is surprised. just like it’s legal to shelter from taxes. doesn’t mean it’s right, and it can only be done by the very few privileged. the issue was notice. these people did the absolute minimum to set this up, and this reflects how little they consider the idea of being positively integrated into the larger community. these people absolutely have the resources to broadcast that this was gonna happen. it’s the flagrant disrespect that people have issue with. but, ooh, you got to see some pretty lights? and on a Saturday? well aren’t you just a lucky fellow :)

• Compressed gas September 17, 2023 (5:22 am)

  Conspicuous consumption…

• David Kannas September 17, 2023 (6:17 am)

  Richie rich showing the rest of us how deprived we are. Maybe he/she should attend Burning Man and burn off some of that testosterone. 

• anonyme September 17, 2023 (6:21 am)

  Multiple groups of orcas have been in our area for the last few days.  Just imagine the effect of this acoustical assault on their delicate echolocation organs, as well as the normal hearing of all other animals.  Add to that the deadly pollution of the air and water, and you’ve got a good reason to wonder WTH is wrong with people. 

  • BigPicture September 17, 2023 (10:31 pm)

    1000%

• Db September 17, 2023 (6:25 am)

  I could hear it clearly in Seward park. It sounded like warfare carpet bombing to me. Thought maybe Idaho national guard was attacking.

• Josh B September 17, 2023 (7:04 am)

  We chatted with someone who with his son at Lowman Park after it was over who mentioned it being for Mexican Independence Day. They were both chanting Viva Mexico and seemed to know about it, so possibly was promoted/advertised in Hispanic/Mexican communities? I was also pretty startled until I saw the fireworks. 

• Ttt September 17, 2023 (7:37 am)

  I have seen a 4th if July fireworks show on a small lake that was just spas spectacular that was put on by a Black Cat fireworks company owner because he had a lake house on that lake. Maybe this is that same guy? An owner gets deep discounts.

• Joe September 17, 2023 (7:38 am)

  I thought it was an amazing  show. I can’t believe the amount of whining going on here. Do you guys realize there are real problems going on in this world? Maybe you should save your energy for that.

  • Reb September 17, 2023 (11:19 am)

    Why you mad bro? Cause people had experiences and feelings about the fireworks impacting them? People have pets, or little kids, or even PTSD. Glad you’re good though thank god! Lmao I can’t with these comments. Like, ur making people feel bad about being impacted and stressed? Why? Maybe you should spend your energy like you said on positive things.

  • You'reKiddingMe September 17, 2023 (11:49 am)

    Just because you weren’t terrified by it and (apparently) don’t care that others were doesn’t mean others don’t have the right to be upset. Get over yourself and have a tiny bit of empathy. 

• Reddit detective September 17, 2023 (7:49 am)

  Learned from one of the Reddit posts about this that there is speculation it was Ed Scripps based on his yacht being present both years for the show, allegedly. A quick google search reveals that the Scripps family does have a connection to pyrotechnics as well.

  • YES2WS September 17, 2023 (3:01 pm)

    Seems strange, though, considering what a simple Google search uncovered. 

    1. Jennewein, Chris. 2021. “Scripps Family Donates $6 Million Toward New Marine Science Research Facility”. Times Of San Diego. https://timesofsandiego.com/tech/2021/10/08/scripps-family-donates-6-million-toward-new-marine-science-research-facility/.

  • Eric September 19, 2023 (6:23 am)

    This is fake news being passed around social media. It was not him. His boat was not there. Please stop posting false information. 

• Molly September 17, 2023 (7:56 am)

  Tracy, is there a way the coast guard can reach out to YOU next time this happens, so that we can be notified in advanced? I feel like if people *know* it’s going to be happening it’s easier to be prepared and not as terrified. And it seems like it would be prudent for not only the CG to tell you, but to make it so 911 does not get called over and over, and for bainbridge fire department to notify neighbor areas about it. 

• Nmc September 17, 2023 (8:05 am)

  Happy Mexican Independence Day!!!🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽This day is recognized each year on Sept. 16. It marks when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla — a Catholic priest and leader of the resistance — gave his “El Grito de Dolores” or “the Cry of Dolores” speech, demanding the end of Spanish rule and calling on Mexicans to battle for independence from Spain in 1810.

  • Monica Walters-Perez September 17, 2023 (10:22 am)

    And it’s all gone uphill from there! 👏🏽👌🏽

• Randy S September 17, 2023 (8:05 am)

  So let me just ask one thing…. Where are the limits?  Can this kind of thing happen every weekend?  Every night?  Middle of the day?  Do the citizens and humans within range of this noise and disruption get any input into its legality and allowance?  Who gets to decide when war-sounding explosions can happen and disrupt peoples lives?  Or is it just the wealthy who get to do whatever they want, whenever they want, without any consequences?  

  • Bdawg September 17, 2023 (10:18 am)

    I ask myself that question every day. Can groups of teens just invade the homes of Asian elders and rob them? Can people just smoke drugs on the street or bus? And about those 58 murders this year in Seattle. Indeed, where are the limits? 

• RAJR September 17, 2023 (8:21 am)

  WSB is usually up-to-date on any events that might include a fireworks display so between the site being temporarily inaccessible, no public notifications from any other source, and our lack of a clear view other than flashes in the sky, my imagination went to some dark places considering our current global tensions.  Not going to lie, this “private show” pissed me off.  Some advanced warning/notification for my pet parent neighbors and fellow residents would have been appreciated.  The dismissive comments coming from thoughtless, anonymous individuals only concerned with their own welfare… not so much. Animals are extremely sensitive to these noises and some of us take measures to keep them calm beforehand. Stop acting like ***holes.

• Bainbridge Islander September 17, 2023 (8:29 am)

  Here on Bainbridge Island, we didn’t know what it was either. Most of us don’t have waterfront,  and aren’t on the fire department’s mailing list. All I could see was flashes through  trees.  Fireworks are illegal on Bainbridge–the barge was legal because it was outside of BI jurisdiction.  Because of all the disastrous news lately, the booms were unsettling, and I wish there’d been better notice–I wonder if it was downplayed because no one wanted to manage crowds gathering to watch. 

• Ookla the Mok September 17, 2023 (8:30 am)

  This entire comment thread is ridiculous!

  • Alki resident September 17, 2023 (9:51 am)

    I fully agree, I hate to see an actual catastrophe take place around her. 

• Ad K September 17, 2023 (8:58 am)

  Yikes. I could hear it clear down in Renton. Thought it was merely up by Seeard Park on Lake Washington like a party a few months ago. 

• Ashley September 17, 2023 (9:03 am)

  So are we thinking it will be the 14th or the 21st next year? I’m going to plan ahead.

  • J September 17, 2023 (9:42 am)

    At the least, their permit approval should he contingent on them notifying all media in areas where the fireworks will be heard.

• sonofsuzannepeters September 17, 2023 (9:23 am)

  People really need to stop telling others how to feel. This was obviously a surprise to us all and had varying intensity, depending on where you live. We are down by the ferry and although we could see them once we walked to the end of our street, we initially thought the ferry had crashed or something. Great for those who enjoyed it and sh—y for those who were scared. Both can be true at the same time!

• S. September 17, 2023 (9:24 am)

  Two points. Sound is magnified and carries on the water. Maybe it is time to ask the state legislature to make all such displays drone shows only, both public and private.Of course, we would then be afraid they were UFO’s.

• Bradley September 17, 2023 (9:28 am)

  So that’s what it sounds like in Ukraine. 

• Bart September 17, 2023 (9:36 am)

  WSB, I wonder if Kersti M would have any insight regarding potential violations of ESA and MMPA (Marine Mammal Protection Act). To the extent that protected species were impacted, or potentially impacted, permission from NOAA Fisheries would have been required, and the event was held illegally, unless, of course, Fisheries issued an exemption (highly unlikely).

  • Jen D September 18, 2023 (10:58 am)

    Good points, totally agree. 

  • Bob September 18, 2023 (1:14 pm)

    I am not sure If this fireworks activity is subject to regulation by NOAA fisheries under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. If it is, they could have obtained a “Incidental Take” permit. There are two types of incidental take authorizations: Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) and Letter of Authorization (LOA). An IHA takes many months and are effective for 1 year. LOAs take years to obtain because they are issued for periods of up to 5 years.

    https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act

    Their website states: “Most incidental take authorizationsm have been issued for activities that produce underwater sound. Some of these activities include:

    1. Military sonar and training exercises.

    1. Oil and gas development, exploration, and production
       activities.

    1. Other energy (renewable and LNG) activities.

    1. Scientific research projects.

    1. Construction projects.”

• tess September 17, 2023 (9:51 am)

  Heard it in Highland Park. A little advanced notice would be appreciated. In today’s world we can’t assume that big booms and things that sound like shots fired are benign.

• WS Res September 17, 2023 (10:17 am)

  • [Fireworks happen]  WSB Commentators: “OMG IT WAS TERRIFYING, LIKE A WAR ZONE THIS SHOULD BE BANNED”
  • [Actual military aircraft fly low and loud overhead]  WSB Commentators: “USA! USA!”

  • Me myself September 17, 2023 (11:38 am)

    Thing is, most people are aware of the blue angels and Seafair. Just like they know if they hear booms on NYE or the 4th of July, it’s probably fireworks. But this took a lot of people by surprise and the fireworks were really, really loud. I heard them but couldn’t see fireworks from where I was. I was briefly nervous that it could have been something scary, but thankfully I was able to quickly locate info online that it was in fact a large and unexpected fireworks display because people were already talking about it and some people could see it.

  • NoFireworks September 17, 2023 (7:06 pm)

    I don’t feel represented by your strawmean agrument. could you please include those who hate fireworks and hate the flagrant displays of the military industrial complex. maybe after considering that group you’ll see your arguments start to fall apart.

• ConcernedInAdmiral September 17, 2023 (10:18 am)

  Last night, our mettle was tested. Let’s consider if this had been of ominous origin, how did the members in your household do (including pets)? How would they have done if it was say 3am? Let’s include inebriation in the mix and speculate this morning if you could’ve been more likely to be dazzled as opposed to jumping into action and making sure the rapid concussive was not thunder nor fireworks but possibly an immediate threat. How would that affect your household? Why don’t we use this event as a way to consider worst case scenarios? And then using that to create simple solutions. Sound cancelling earphones & shooting earplugs at the ready. Lastly, I feel the need to take a moment and promote the criminally-minded concept that sound can assist in covering crimes, even wind. What I mean is, that display created a pretty sizable window of opportunity with distraction that we all could learn from whether annoyed, gleeful or neutral. It did sound like bombing and as a single woman I didn’t know what to do next especially since I could not tell visually from where it came nor what it was. After several minutes of what sounded like a shelling attack, I decided it must be pyrotechnics but didn’t go outside as much as I wanted to…I love fireworks! Why? Because another terrible tactic, whether local or in wartime, includes luring us out of familiar territory such as our homes and businesses. For your consideration, West Seattle. I care about us making it through worse times! What would we do without you WSB? 🙏🏼👏🏽

• Dogowner September 17, 2023 (10:22 am)

  Someone with more time on their hands than I’ve got please, please, please do a public records request with the Seattle Fire Dept. and/or the U.S. Coast Guard to find out who this “private entity” is. This person should be celebrated by the community for their passion for fireworks and their ostentatious display of affection for whoever’s birthday it was. 

  • Bainbridge isn’t Seattle, duh September 18, 2023 (2:49 pm)

    Seattle FD covers the City of Seattle. This is not the city of Seattle nor king county. This is Bainbridge and Kitsap County and the coast guard. SFD got a bajillion calls last year, from a lot of angry people, with misreporting behind a lot of that. It is not Seattle. They authorize AT MOST the loading of the physical fireworks onto a barge IF the barge was being loaded on the Seattle coastline. ANYTHING FOR THE SHOW – permits, permissions, etc – is going to be with Bainbridge, Coast Guard, or Kitsap. Recap – Seattle: no pertinent records for this . Govt entities actually involved: yes records for this  

• Barb September 17, 2023 (10:30 am)

  In addition to scary for most life (loudest fireworks I’ve heard in 35+ years living in West Seattle that sounded like war) our fish, whales, and all Puget Sound sea life will suffer due to the pollution from this. All those toxins land in the air we breathe and Puget Sound, and even worse during migration season for salmon.  Here’s an article by Earth.org of why crowd pleasing fireworks are not pleasing to the planet.  https://earth.org/environmental-impact-of-fireworks/

  • Rhonda September 17, 2023 (1:29 pm)

    Do you really know what war sounds like? It doesn’t sound like that. In fact, there’s often very little sound at all, which is truly terrifying. 

    • LiesofWar September 17, 2023 (3:45 pm)

      4th of July night sounds exactly like war- signed, someone who lives with someone that has PTSD from multiple wars in their home country. 

      • Rhonda September 17, 2023 (8:21 pm)

        My husband and I were both in separate wars, we live with each other, and we both have PTSD. And, no, 4th of July doesn’t sound like what we both experienced.

        • THISCOMMUNITYHATES September 18, 2023 (9:19 am)

          so those without the same experience as you are… wrong? they don’t deserve to be heard and protected? i highly doubt you were in wars at all. the vets i know are incredibly sympathetic. you are not

        • Rhonda September 18, 2023 (6:03 pm)

          THISCOMMUNITYHATES, I was in a war as a child, too. There’s a saying “a warrior walks alone among friends”. I don’t expect you to understand, so…

    • BigPicture September 17, 2023 (10:29 pm)

      That was not the point Rhonda. The point was not about what real war sounds like. The point was about the environment and the impact last night can have on a delicate ecosystem that is home to endangered resident orcas.

• No more bomb fireworks September 17, 2023 (10:59 am)

  Huge apology is needed to humans, creatures and environment from these fireworks bomb clowns.  Way way way over the top scary and destructive and stupid.  Never again.

  • Gatewood September 17, 2023 (6:09 pm)

    A thank you is more like it I like most people appreciate the multimillion dollar show that was put on for free. 

    • SupportTheRich September 17, 2023 (6:52 pm)

      yes, thank the wealthy for satiating or hunger for fireworks. universally loved and necessary for living! who needs food when you can fill your belly with pretty lights 😍

• Mohammad Khorasani September 17, 2023 (11:02 am)

  Look folks, sure a general notice may have been nice to prepare our pets etc but other than that it was beautiful and an unexpected end to our night. It was not too late. Seems like we all just like to complain rather than roll with it. Sometimes it’s good to look at these things through the eyes of a 10 year old.

  • You'reKiddingMe September 17, 2023 (11:56 am)

    I’m betting there were a number of 10 year olds who were terrified last night also (especially if they live somewhere that the residents could only hear the house and didn’t know what it was from). Have a little respect and empathy for those who had a different experience than you. 

  • YES2WS September 17, 2023 (2:01 pm)

    Look Mohammad, sure it was beautiful to your eyes. But did you see the whales, sea lions, salmon, and the rest of marine life surfaced to witness the beauty? Please take time to read Barb’s link about the effects of fireworks on marine life and wildlife in general. Not to mention what happens pollution-wise. Or even the trauma inflicted on veterans, pets, ptsd persons, etc. Your eyes got to enjoy. Yay, you. But many, many others had no idea what was going on and understandably assumed it could be an attack on our country. Can you maybe find a bit of empathy for them?

    • Alki resident September 17, 2023 (4:28 pm)

      Did you take time to worry about the sea life when the Lake Union barge sets off fireworks for an hour on the 4th each year? 

      • BigPicture September 17, 2023 (10:53 pm)

        When is the last time you saw an orca or humpback in lake union? LolApples to oranges. Congrats on completely fumbling the nuances involved here.

  • Lol September 17, 2023 (6:48 pm)

    “but other than that”. dude, that’s the whole point…

• Out of curiosity September 17, 2023 (11:19 am)

  I think what this comment section is showing is that maybe such incidents warrants a general broadcast (like an amber alert) to the area codes of people’s phones to warn them that they maybe affected by such events and planned accordingly. Such incidents are not general knowledge and can cause panick to people who just want to be aware of what’s going on. Such things as filling for permits for these special events as the minimum requirement shows how nearsighted society has become and how negligible they are to common courtesy is to their neighbors/constituents. How hard is it to do that and also broadcast on the news/ information websites that such an event is happening at least a continuation of three days prior to a “special” event. Hopefully we can learn from yesterday on what we didn’t act on a year ago. It was a great display but let’s just be more courteous to the people that may be affected and help them accordingly.

  • Say what September 17, 2023 (5:38 pm)

    Yeah and amber alert to 1 Million people PLUS the fireworks would be much less invasive

• AdmiralResident September 17, 2023 (11:19 am)

  @WSB, do you have any recommendations on who to file complaints with regarding this event?  Would the number listed on the Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners be appropriate?  Thanks!

• John September 17, 2023 (11:27 am)

  Great show from our deck over on the north end of vashon island, nice pics.

• Vaya en paz September 17, 2023 (11:40 am)

  1. The fireworks show was awesome and as a Mexican American is was cool to see it on Mexican Independence Day. It was also completely legal, followed all guidelines and if you have a problem with it, complain to your state government, local politicians or suck it up for 20 minutes.

  2. I have never seen so may racist, non-equitable comments on this blog. Yes, racist. Every year we go through fireworks celebrating 4th of July and New Years Eve with ZERO complaints from this blog. We also have to listen to the Blue Angels during September every year. But ONE little 20 minute LEGAL celebration that lifts up Mexican Americans and all of a sudden you have a bunch of whiny Seattle-ites (I am guessing mostly progressive) who believe their cat’s mood is more important than anything else.

  3. It was 20 minutes and surprise surprise, your life continued and your cat is fine.

  Think of it as an opportunity for you to participate in something bigger than just yourself and your cat and an added bonus is you get to experience another culture instead of complaining like this. Maybe do some research into Mexican-American history while you are at it. You might learn a few things about our rich history.

  • alkiannie September 17, 2023 (12:37 pm)

    Were the fireworks related to Mexican Independence Day?

  • AB September 17, 2023 (12:51 pm)

    Do you know that the fireworks were put on for Mexican Independence Day? Most have said it was for some rich guys bday.

  • Me myself September 17, 2023 (1:26 pm)

    All the info available points to a rich person celebrating a private occasion. If it were both confirmed and widely known that the show was for Mexican Independence Day yeah this response could be racist but people had no clue what was going on and some who couldn’t see the fireworks were legit scared because they sounded like bombs. If you saw the show and were happy because it felt like a celebration of Mexican heritage then I’m honestly happy for you, in fact you should continue to own this for Mexico even though that’s probably not the actual intent because that’s a better reason than just being some rich jerk with money to throw around. :D 

  • Rhonda September 17, 2023 (3:21 pm)

    Thank you, Vaya en paz. As a person of color I, too, am concerned about the just-under-the-surface racism in many of the comments. Regardless if it was to celebrate Mexican Independence Day or not, my Mexican-American friends are very happy that it may have been.

  • Molly September 17, 2023 (3:54 pm)

    There is literally zero indication these were for Mexico Independence Day. There is also a difference between an expected occurrence (aka new years or Fourth of July, where people can expect and prepare for something), and sitting in a quiet home and hearing thunderous noise with flashing lights over the horizon that continues on. Had there been any notification, I bet alki would’ve been packed with people and families watching the amazing show. Frankly, it sounded 10x better than the show the city does for the 4th of July. Instead, NO ONE was notified and WSB tripped running out of her house trying to get a view of what might be going on. This isn’t racist to say there should be notifications on events that will cause loud noises over the sound directly from our shores. No one is saying that had it been for the independence day it shouldn’t have happened. But with NO notification given, NO ONE knows why it happened and we can only speculate and complain about the freight we got last night. 

  • Monica Walters-Perez September 17, 2023 (4:39 pm)

    Vaya en paz, I am the ONLY one who’s comment could be seen as racist. There’s no need to passively aggressively throw cat carers into the mix or all others. I am also sexist, specifically towards Latinas especially after my experiences con mi familia & my next door neighbor. I am perfectly comfortable claiming this. Thank you. God help us all. 

  • anonyme September 17, 2023 (4:45 pm)

    Vaya en paz, here’s a serious question: are you delusional?  Fireworks complaints are plentiful on the blog for all of the occasions you mention.  They are far from “ZERO” so please, get real and stop playing the victim.  Faux patriotism is often used as the excuse for those displays as well, but there’s no excuse for the environmental damage and the trauma to both people and animals that fireworks cause.  BTW, my cat is not all right, he has permanent PTSD due to fireworks, and so do a lot of other animals around here – both wild and domesticated, human and non-human.  Selfishness and disregard for other living beings are nothing to celebrate or be proud of, nor are ear-damaging noise and bombs the only ways to do so.

  • NoBooms September 17, 2023 (6:34 pm)

    I hate all fireworks. But at least I can anticipate the 4th. the problem people have is that a person with the resources to put this one never bothered to circulate it would happen. you can’t understand why that would be a problem to folks? feels like you have an axe to grind with libs that you jump to conclusions

• Scottjc54 September 17, 2023 (12:24 pm)

  We just decided to go on the deck and enjoy the beautiful show. It was safe, professionally done and early enough to not be annoying for a Saturday night. Dog was ok until some idiots in South Alki hood took advantage and blew off M80’s. Grow up adult adolescents and just enjoy professionals ply their trade at the expense of non tax dollars. 

  • Boom(er) September 17, 2023 (6:22 pm)

    coast guard had to be involved, so it still costed tax payer money. why do only the extremely wealthy get to set off fireworks? for all these firework lovers and explosion minimizers, you’d think they’d love the occasional blast!

    • WSB September 17, 2023 (6:26 pm)

      Somebody sent us this URL – someone at the Seattle Times spent some time today tracking down the fireworks company that put on the show, and the various government agencies with some involvement, but didn’t uncover who the show was for and why:
      https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/puget-sound/what-was-that-noise-coming-from-puget-sound-on-saturday-night/

• Frank September 17, 2023 (1:07 pm)

  When are people finally going to start being charged for the felony animal cruelty that lighting off firewors is? Tens of thousands of cats and dogs cowering under beds and shivering in the basement trying to get away from it isn’t something anybody should be proud of or defend their right to cause.

  • anonyme September 17, 2023 (4:46 pm)

    Frank, you make an excellent point.

• HP September 17, 2023 (1:31 pm)

  I live in Uptown and the many low booms were greatly disturbing. There were dogs barking in the neighborhood also.I understand that residents in Wallingford and further north were also disturbed by the noise. This is too great of a public impact and the permit should not be allowed for it. The Coast Guard is not easy to contact beyond calling the Officer of the Day. 

• Ookla the Mok September 17, 2023 (2:28 pm)

  I think you all should schedule some time to meet up at the library and try to talk this out.  

  • Lol September 17, 2023 (3:38 pm)

    Lol

• Jessica September 17, 2023 (3:35 pm)

  L’shana tovah!!

• Ryan L September 17, 2023 (4:36 pm)

  Too bad none of those fireworks were made in America 

• Scottjc54 September 17, 2023 (4:44 pm)

  I was In my office watching college football, if anything I thought it sounded like thunder, a lot. Having heard weapons of our military, in close proximity , it only sounded like thunder and In no way did it sound or feel like military weapons. My wife came in to tell me I was missing fireworks. FYI, weapons would be the loudest most intimidating sound you will ever hear or feel. Unless you are just looking to complain about something, it was only simple fireworks. Do not be like chicken little and overreact, it helps no one, especially your self. 

  • Ly September 17, 2023 (6:23 pm)

    Most people have NOT heard artillery and do not know the difference . I have, having lived just near Camp Pendleton. But I am not presumptuous to think other should chill and not act like chicken little just because I have and they don’t know what real artillery sounds like. People were startled and young children nervous about the sound they heard. Empathy helps. You sound really arrogant. 

• I like Fireworks September 17, 2023 (5:35 pm)

  So many fireworks haters! Fireworks every night would be awesome :) Over before the 10pm noise curfew, what’s the big deal? The animals forgive us for our humanity on a daily basis 🙏 

  • alkiannie September 17, 2023 (6:39 pm)

    “the animals forgive us for our humanity on a daily basis” is such an awful thing to read that I can only pray that you are deliberately trolling

• Isobel September 17, 2023 (6:25 pm)

  To these posters who are complaining and crying about disruption of they’re beauty sleep. THANK YOU. You’ve brought me to a place of reminder. Reminder of how I could become if not careful. You define for me what it’s like to be an old, square living , uptight, no fun, and an absurdly unappreciative negative form of energy, a sad lot to be honest. Moments like those of last night are few for many, and the whole show was a gem of a spectacle. A rare encounter. Especially since 2020.  It was a beautifully arranged display. One that caught many people off guard, yes, but a display that was so colorful, shockingly huge, and mesmerizing to say the least.  The lot of you that could only see the level of hate and disgust within such an array, speaks volumes for how you see life, and the unpredictable curveballs thrown your way over your mushy marsh filled years. I can’t help but wonder how many of you could have seen beauty instead of hate had you opened your mind and let go of that vicious grasp on your sphincter. Consider when you were younger and more enigmatic, unaware of what’s to come each and every upcoming morrow…? Hopefully not the same thought pattern as today ? Or Maybe you’d have complained then also. In which case, I wish you some sort of happiness just once in life before the gate closes on each of us. Hopefully for most of the negative Debbie downers posting on here, you will release that grasp and let moments like those of last night, unexpectedly take your breath away with ease as it did for the many others who know to appreciate random encounters with value rather than disdainful attributes and postings. May the chance of life cross your path with open arms and bring your sight to the for front of it all to view life in a more positive abstract rather than this apparent negative bath you have been soaking in. Life could be so much more brighter for many of you. It saddens me for only a minute of my time at most and my compassion is with those drowning in the reality of their own constructed misery. To whomever fired and funded this show last night. Thank you. It was better than the new years one at the space needle and that was hard to surpass. I stopped and took the break I needed from the rush of lifes responsibilities and watched in awe of the show a much needed escape . It was huge from the seat of belltown. And we shared it with many others across the states. It was one of a kind and it took my breath away. Thank you. 

  • alkiannie September 17, 2023 (9:20 pm)

    I didn’t read your entire post because it seemed righteous, arrogant, dismissive… thank you for reminding ME how I could  become if I didn’t stop to realize how important it is to think about other people, animals, nature… and not just think of myself and “yay, pretty boom booms!”

    • sam-c September 18, 2023 (7:33 am)

      Lol, no kidding.  You should read the whole thing AlkiAnnie, it’s so eloquently condescending.

  • Rhonda September 17, 2023 (9:39 pm)

    Isobel, your comment is the best and most appropriate one on here. Thank you for being a breath of badly-needed fresh air.

    • miws September 18, 2023 (8:01 am)

      Thank you for being a breath of badly-needed fresh air.

      Yeah….badly needed, after all of the smoke that show must’ve put out. I feel for my fellow lung disease sufferers who were near enough to be involuntarily exposed to it… —Mike

  • HappyHappenings September 18, 2023 (9:28 am)

    “You define for me what it’s like to be an old, square living , uptight,
    no fun, and an absurdly unappreciative negative form of energy, a sad
    lot to be honest.” this has me ROLLIN’. i’m more than happy w/ my hatred for fireworks, and rightfully criticizing rich folks doing the bare minimum to let people know this was happening (which is 100% of the problem, not the fireworks themselves; don’t know how y’all continue to not understand this). turns out, i derivative a lot more fun in my own life from everything else i do. a firework display isn’t make or break. your comment reeks of projection, tbh, so i hope you’re doin’ alright :)

  • 1994 September 18, 2023 (10:10 pm)

    Well, unfortunately MOST of us could NOT SEE the fireworks but MOST of us COULD HEAR THEM = there was no joy in that!

  • Diana Piggee September 21, 2023 (12:26 pm)

    Very well said. I wasn’t able to see it I am a disabled vet and Mexican American if my back wasn’t out I would have loved to see them. I my head it will be for Mexican Independence Day. Perfect example of entitlement.

• Drew September 17, 2023 (6:38 pm)

  West-facing view near the junction, so saw the entire display.  It was an excellent show, although amazingly loud.  Much more low-frequency rumbling and booming than I would have expected, even given how sound can travel over water.  The cat wasn’t too happy, though he got over it.  For people who didn’t have the advantage of seeing it, I can understand how disconcerting it must have been.I’m curious what exactly it was for.  Most private parties don’t have such direct impact on everyone else.  I see some Mexican-Americans are claiming the celebration as their own, which is fine, although is there evidence of that, or is the date just a coincidence?  (The comment that anyone who was upset by it is thus racist is pretty wild.  Especially if it turns out this was just some rich white guy blowing up money to entertain his family.)

• Tracker September 17, 2023 (7:19 pm)

  anyone have experience making a FOIA request? they got a Coast Guard permit. maybe some info there.

• Avril September 17, 2023 (7:32 pm)

  I LOVED the fireworks show! It was a wonderful treat! I hope the celebration went well for the celebrants! My cat is typically fearful on Independence Day. On this occasion he couldn’t be bothered which surprised me because we could feel the power and vibration across the Sound! Thank you! 

• Ccity September 17, 2023 (9:02 pm)

  Wonder, they must have a safety boundary that prevents the operator from igniting the explosives if someone is too close. Would be just terrible if somebody’s boat/boats was/were to accidentally be boating within the safety range next year. Since we know what weekend to expect it and all. Terrible. 

• BigPicture September 17, 2023 (10:24 pm)

  Puget Sound and the rest of the Salish Sea is home to endangered species like the resident orcas. Humpback whales and transient orcas were just south of this barge at the time of the fireworks show. As a state, city, and county, sometimes our environmentally friendly views by our politicians lack action and are nothing more than speaking points to get votes. Aside from all the firework pros and cons mentioned in this thread, and whether or not us humans enjoyed the show, shouldn’t we strive to protect a local marine habitat that hosts some of the last of its kind? I’d love to see a world one day where the Coast Guard guards the coast for the benefit of all sentient creatures. A world where the Navy protects and preserves oceans rather than just military lines on a map. Hopefully the next generation can witness some of today’s majestic creatures without having to only know of their past existence in a textbook, thx to humans treating the earth so recklessly. I love fireworks, fwiw. I don’t love tossing thousands of burning embers and charred mortars in a beautiful sea where endangered species try to make the most of a fragile ecosystem one day at a time. Have fun, celebrate life, but maybe respect nature and majestic sentient creatures too. In a country of 330M people, we are literally the only ones who get to witness some of these creatures passing through our local seas on a consistent basis. Don’t take it for granted. 

  • Jacquie September 17, 2023 (10:57 pm)

    Well said. Thanks. 

  • Suzanne September 18, 2023 (12:22 am)

    I agree! Thank you for expressing our concerns so articulately.

• Buck September 17, 2023 (10:42 pm)

  I’ll bet the rich folks who threw this obnoxiously loud show that must have spooked the orcas donate a bunch to the nature/widllife causes to make them selves feel better about themselves.  Self righteous, rich and mean is a toxic mixture.

• John West Seattle September 17, 2023 (10:59 pm)

  I am surprised that no one seems to know that it is customary for wealthy Asians to put on a fireworks show at the wedding reception of the bride and groom.  It’s not new around here. It’s happened a lot at Blake Island too.  My guess is, a wedding reception or the Jewish New Year. 

• Ferns September 18, 2023 (12:08 am)

  I think some of the people posting are only getting pissy because they’re jealous that it’s a private firework show. Obviously if everyone applied for firework permits the system and rules would need to change but this is a rare event. If a community or a sports stadium or a concert performance decided to put off the fireworks, and the regularly do, I bet you we would have a fraction of these complaining comments. And for the upset dog owners… I guarantee you your dog has annoyed, menaced, inconvenienced, barked at or otherwise made someone else’s life a little less peaceful but you don’t care about that and minimize dog ownership’s impact on others because it’s your dog and you get to enjoy what you want. So just tap the brakes on the self-righteous complaining about rare, legal fireworks shows and accept that you and your dog don’t get to live in a perfect world. 

• Alkiman September 18, 2023 (8:58 am)

  I am just amazed at how many experts we have in our area.  Be it politics, history, marine life, pollution, you name it.  So many people know everything and could never be wrong!

• Gatewood September 18, 2023 (9:58 am)

  I can’t believe how upset everyone is.  Perhaps put this energy into something that really matters.  The fireworks were beautiful! I will put the date on my calendar for next year.  So well done  Best I’ve ever seen! 

• Jen D September 18, 2023 (10:55 am)

  I was a stone’s throw away visiting my elderly parents on Bainbridge. We were all terrified, thought Seattle was under attack. My Dad woke up in the morning with burning eyes. What a sick show (literally) of private entitlement. Classic for this moment in our history. 

• suzannepeters’son September 18, 2023 (11:15 am)

  Are we really telling people how to feel about things in the year of the Barbie Movie? Your experience doesn’t negate the experience of others! Clearly it was a surprise for nearly everyone, whether pleasant or unpleasant, and varied on intensity depending on where you live. We are by the ferry and although we were able to see the show once we walked to the end of our street, it didn’t change the fact that we initially thought something was wrong down at the dock. Great for those who enjoyed it, not great for a lot of other people and friendly reminder that both of these things can be true at the same time, folks! 

• gebee September 18, 2023 (11:30 am)

  Legal fireworks organized as birthday gift by „legal“ Taxevaders. Meanwhile crimerates are climbing, enviromental and infrastructural problems increasing, unaffordable healthcare. As European I do really wonder what and where Americans have there prioritys?

• J hart September 18, 2023 (4:02 pm)

  One thing that really gets me puzzled is people going outside when they think we are being bombed. This makes as much sense as standing at the window during a drive by shooting.

• Brandon September 19, 2023 (1:12 am)

  City of Seattle should take notes. Sounds like that’s how you put on a Firework Show. Who needs lasers when Redmond and Kent can hear you celebrate New Years. Lets do it for the Semiquincentennial if we make it that far.

Sorry, comment time is over.