Home › Forums › Open Discussion › RANT: Arbor Heights fireworks
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July 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm #591398
JenVMemberall night last night – late. M-80’s going off every 15 minutes or so. I have never before wished someone would blow their fingers off, but I sure do now.
July 1, 2009 at 7:17 pm #671051
MargLMemberOh Jen, I feel your pain! This neighborhood can be so nice and quiet sometimes but living next to unincorporated King County is a pain in the a$$ at this time of year!
July 1, 2009 at 7:31 pm #671052
KBearParticipantNothing says patriotism like blowing stuff up, annoying your neighbors, terrifying their dogs, and breaking the law! God Bless America!
(We’re further north, so our neighbors WERE breaking the law.)
July 1, 2009 at 8:20 pm #671053
westwoodmomMemberAnother echo of pain here! We are just north of the boundary and yet still have crazy fools lighting them up in our crowded alley and street. Idiots!
July 1, 2009 at 9:29 pm #671054
JulieMemberI don’t know about JenV’s annoyances, but some of those we’re hearing in Arbor Heights are not in the unincorporated area–they are within the city limits.
July 1, 2009 at 9:51 pm #671055
JenVMemberoh yeah – I am well within in the city limits, and these sounded as though they were coming from Fauntleroy Park. I have no problem with people lighting off fireworks * – within reason – but M80’s at 11pm on a work night – sucks.
*pretty ones, on the 4th of July, that don’t catch anything on fire
July 1, 2009 at 10:06 pm #671056
ErikParticipantWhether it’s the city or unincorporated King County, things that go boom are illegal.
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Fireworks: State law vs. federal law
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Washington’s fireworks laws are more rigid than federal laws, and some cities and towns ban fireworks that are otherwise legal under state law.
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Fireworks that are legal in Washington include any ground device containing 50 milligrams or less of explosive materials, and any aerial device containing 130 milligrams or less of explosive materials.
Legal fireworks include sparklers, fountains, ground spinners, shells and smoke devices as long as they do not contain more than the legal limit of explosive materials.
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Firecrackers, bottle rockets and missiles are legal on tribal land, but they are illegal if possessed off tribal land.
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M-80s, cherry bombs, large re-loadable shells and other large explosives are illegal everywhere in the country. They are explosive devices, not fireworks.
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Source: Office of the state Fire Marshal.
July 1, 2009 at 10:20 pm #671057
MargLMemberThere’s no question they’re illegal. They’re also annoying. It’s probably the same people every year, too. They do it because they can…
July 2, 2009 at 12:46 am #671058
vincentMemberThis is why I stick to just firing a gun into the air. I can get more bullets at BIG5
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/2123656838_cd253306d7.jpg?v=0
July 2, 2009 at 3:14 am #671059
aunteesocialParticipantBanned in Seattle, but like it or not- allowed in unincorporated King County 9am-midnight July 4. A thousand neighbors two blocks south of me take full advantage of this.
Link to King County Fire Marshal: http://www.kingcounty.gov/property/FireMarshal/fireworks.aspx
Link to home page post on WSB: https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=18217
July 2, 2009 at 3:58 am #671060
MargLMemberOh I wish!
It’s not the -legal- fireworks that are a problem! It’s the illegal ones! If they were just setting off sparklers, smoke bombs, and sparkley fountains that’d be fine. But they use M-80’s, firecrackers, bottle rockets and other things that go BOOM and tend to land in neighbor’s yards and on neighbor’s houses and light things on fire.
That’s the reason we don’t even have to leave the house to see a fireworks show! We just look out east! Lots cheaper and we don’t have to worry about traffic and parking. :-)
July 2, 2009 at 9:07 am #671061
JeannieParticipantHey, KBear, your comment above (#3) looks oddly familiar. On another thread a week ago, I wrote, “Nothing says Freedom and Patriotism like shooting off fireworks and frightening pets (be sure your furry and feathered pals are OK), getting drunk, losing an eye or finger, starting a fire, etc., etc. Happy Independence Day, folks!” Coincidence or a case of imitation as the sincerest form of flattery???
July 2, 2009 at 9:09 am #671062
JeannieParticipantBy the way, does calling the cops re illegal fireworks do any good? I tend to doubt it. It can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the fireworks, plus cops are busy enough as is. So we and our pets just have to put up with it?
July 2, 2009 at 1:35 pm #671063
charlabobParticipantOK, for once this is NOT a snarky PC question — every since I moved west I’ve wanted to ask about this business of firing guns into the air. Don’t the bullets come down and hit someone? Does their trajectory send them somewhere else, thus giving new meaning to NIMBY? I could see where it would seem like fun, right up until what went up came down.
The house next to me (in North Admiral) has had three owners since we’ve lived here. All three shoot off fireworks for a few days before and after the 4th. And on new years day. So I suspect calling the police doesn’t much work.
July 2, 2009 at 3:28 pm #671064
JenVMemberevery New Years Eve when I was a kid, my dad would pull out the 410 Rifle and fire it into the air at midnight. :)
July 2, 2009 at 3:37 pm #671065
KBearParticipantJeannie, everyone does annoying stuff. Some people set off fireworks. I occasionally repeat myself.
July 2, 2009 at 4:09 pm #671066
JEMParticipantI don’t even mind them blowing up stuff on the 4th – it’s expected. I just hate that it starts 3 days beforehand. My dog has to bark at every single thing that goes off so it has not been easy getting to sleep these last few nights! And it definately goes on inside the city limits (Arbor Heights).
July 2, 2009 at 4:10 pm #671067
JenVMemberhey JEM – I think I saw you at the bus stop when I drove by this morning! We’re neighbors now! :)
July 2, 2009 at 7:21 pm #671068
kgParticipantAhhh, 4th of July. The sounds bring back so many fond memories from a few short years ago when I was on “vacation” in Iraq. =P
July 2, 2009 at 10:25 pm #671069
dhgParticipantcharlabob: Bullets DO come down but don’t usually hit anyone. The television show Mythbusters tested the physics of bullets dropping from the sky and found they don’t hit on-point and they don’t have much force so it isn’t likely to be a deadly hit.
July 3, 2009 at 1:51 am #671070
anonymeParticipantMAJOR RANT: I also live in Arbor Heights, and I’m at my wit’s end on this issue. The veterinarians in this area rake it in this time of year, as everyone in the neighborhood has to either drug their pets senseless, or board them. For a full two weeks this time of year, Arbor Heights is a war zone, a mini-Baghdad. Every year I clean rockets off of my roof, some of which I’ve seen land – still smoking. In some areas of Arbor Heights the debris left in the street is so thick you can wade through it. I’m terrified that my house will catch fire in the middle of the night, or when I’m at work and my pets are helpless to escape. To add insult to injury, I just read a posting on WS Blog announcing that we are not allowed to call 911 for fireworks violations, but must try to get through to the non-emergency number. If you’ve ever tried calling the non-emergency number you know you’re not likely to get through on the calmest of days, and even less likely to actually get a police response. On the Fourth of July, forget it.
So what can we do, aside from standing by helplessly while these numbnuts burn our houses down? Even the ones that aren’t brain-dead thugs are likely drunk – so not wise to confront these morons. One year I did, which resulted in some minor vandalism; I also overheard the culprits conspiring to sneak in and cut down all my trees.
BTW, not only are ALL fireworks illegal in Seattle, but it’s illegal to use fireworks on any day but the 4th. I just heard on the news that western Washington is also in a “code red” fire risk category, making the slightest spark a serious risk. I’m very angry at the lack of enforcement or support by the City on this issue. I think we need special patrol units that look for violations, calls or not. Instead of a slap on the wrist and having their widdle bombs taken away, violations should require a very hefty fine – or jail. The revenue in Arbor Heights alone should pay for the patrols.
July 5, 2009 at 2:18 am #671071
KevinParticipantFREE fireworks shows in Arbor Heights! Both of these shows are annual events. They know they can get away with it – so the show must go on.
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1. Just a couple houses south of 100th on 42nd Ave. SW
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+ Show starts around dusk. Things that go boom, bottle rockets, and other aerial delights.
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2. In the approximate area of 102nd and 41st Ave. SW
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+ This show is usually a bit later, towards midnight and involves commercial grade fireworks that really go BOOM and and aerial delights that put the earlier show totally to shame.
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Can’t call 911, they are too busy to come out anyway. Cruel as it may sound, perhaps the promoters will finally wise up after someone looses an eye, a few fingers, or even a hand.
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July 5, 2009 at 2:49 am #671072
JohnstonParticipantI live in North Shorewood…just over the line in KC. (Across my street is City of Seattle)
It’s 7:30 pm and it’s just getting started. I expect another 6 hours during which it will only get worse. My cat is terrified; I’ve only had her a few months, and she took new years eve pretty well, but now she is extremely stressed and the night is young. Next year I will likely have to drug or board her. I’d love to take a short drive and watch the fireworks at Three Tree Point, but I don’t dare as my kitty needs comfort and I fear a fire starting…hose is at the ready.
Why does it have to be like this every year? I love fireworks; I love the 4th. I’d be fine with a few aerial salutes at dusk…but ALL DAY LONG…for days!? Rockets at noon when you can’t even see them…and the M-whatevers that rattle my windows and put me on edge too?
Grow up people! I love my neighborhood save 2 nights a year. This is out of control!
Rant over. Happy Independence Day from the heart of the war zone.
John and Bella Luna
July 5, 2009 at 3:19 am #671073
anonymeParticipantAt least 3 nights of hell so far, although last night was not as bad as expected. I was fast asleep the other night when someone (I know who) set off an M-80 in the alley behind my house. I wonder how many people have heart attacks from crap like this? My dog has been on Valium for two days. Tonight is shaping up to be a bad one.
A few minutes ago I peeked out the window because I thought I heard rockets. Sure enough, some jackass is setting off rockets from the bed of his pickup. He saw me, and simply sneered in defiance. These guys know damned good and well there’s no law around here.
What we need are some roving crews of vigilante fireworks extinguishers. ‘Til then, thank goodness there’s half a doggie Valium left and a six-pack of Mike’s hard lemonade in the fridge.
July 5, 2009 at 3:30 am #671074
JohnstonParticipant@anonyme: Sign me up for your vigilante extinguisher squad! In the meantime my thoughts are with you and your woozy doggie!
Bella Luna has hunkered down under the couch…as long as she feels safe, that’s all I can ask.
It really does sound like a war zone with the explosions in the distance. I do not feel free tonight.
Thanks, jackasses!
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