If you’ve heard the booms from Gatewood, Upper Fauntleroy, Westwood, etc., those are fireworks, not gunshots. We’ve heard them all, and police in the area have seen them. We’re just mentioning it because we’ve gotten a few texts and dispatchers/calltakers say they’re getting deluged.
At about 6:50pm in Alki around 61st Ave SW and Alki Ave, I heard one big boom I was convinced was a gunshot. No sounds since. Plus this isn’t close to where the post references. Any leads on if it’s related or not?
Unless the same people set something off there and then traveled cross-peninsula to a house in Upper Fauntleroy, not likely. I have no idea what the motivating factor was, though – TR
Alki resident. I live nearby. Heard it too. It clearly was a firework.
Thank you! Over in Arbor Heights I kept hearing loud pops and wondered what was going on. Sounds travel far! especially in the evening hours.
WSB, would you consider doing a follow-up on the fireworks in the area? Are law enforcement agencies doing anything to prevent them or track them down when they’re being lit off? In such a densely populated area, certainly there are eye witnesses of who’s doing it. It is jarring, upsetting, and illegal.
They were checking out a particular house that a caller identified. Whether they traced it there or spoke to residents, I don’t know, but I’ll watch for a report # (not as reliably available since they let Tweets by Beat die)…
What exactly would you have Law Enforcement do to PREVENT fireworks from being set off ?
Enforcement would be a good start. If people get caught setting off fireworks and there are concrete consequences, word will get around and that will help PREVENT future incidents. I personally think that fireworks offenses should be treated much more harshly than they currently are.
WS Troll is absolutely right. There currently is NO enforcement of fireworks violations, which is why the problem has literally exploded. As another commenter pointed out, police will drive right by someone setting off fireworks and give a smile and a nod instead of a citation (I’ve witnessed this personally). We must stop accepting the excuse that police are “short staffed” as a reason to condone lawlessness.
About 4 houses away from me. It’s been happening for the past 10 years. Random fireworks. Seahawks wins. Nice weather. Sale on eggs. Not sure where they get their fireworks but they are loud, triggering, and so very random. At least they are nice to look at
Can confirm. Someone’s parents must have been away, because there were a whole bunch of teenage boys wandering around Gatewood Hill obviously looking for a party.
If the police saw them, then a fine should have been issued. It’s that simple. Yet we all know that the perpetrators got a finger wag, if that. Reports of gunshots that turn out to be illegal fireworks waste police time and a fine is justified for that alone.
People light off gigantic, professional-grade fireworks on our street WHILE police are driving by and SPD does nothing.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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