Neighbor Discourages Fireworks, Especially Near Eagles And Fire Department Advisory

A neighbor wrote to the Laurelhurst Blog:

Please put out a plea to the neighborhood to do all they can to discourage fireworks from being set off in the neighborhood.  Besides being dangerous for people, there are nesting eagles and many other birds in the neighborhood as well as many, many dogs who do not do well the noise from fireworks.

The Seattle Fire Department sent out this notice:

Be Safe this July 4^th and Leave the Fireworks to the Professionals

Seattle Fire Department, Harborview  Medical Center and the Seattle Police Department are reminding the community to stay safe this Fourth of July.

Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. Every year, the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries. These incidents could have been prevented by leaving the fireworks to the professionals.  

There were 481 fireworks-related injuries and/or fires reported to the Office of the State Fire Marshal by fire departments and hospital emergency rooms in 2015, an 11 percent increase over 2014. Of the 481 incidents, there were 241 injuries and 240 fires resulting in more than $600,000 in property loss.  

On the Fourth of July, 911 centers can become overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls. Do not call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help from police, fire or medics.  

Last year, Harborview Medical Center, an entity of UW Medicine, treated 54 patients who had been injured as a result of fireworks. Injuries ranged from finger amputations to fractures and burns to faces and hands. This year, Harborview has already seen 11 patients with fireworks-related injuries. 

Any fireworks-related fires or injuries should be reported directly to 911. Other fireworks violations may be reported by calling the Seattle Police non-emergency number at (206) 625-5011.