Neighbors Again Asking For Fireworks To Stop Going Off Late At Night In Park

fireworks found in the park

The Laurelhurst Blog continues to receive numerous emails about people letting off fireworks in the park almost every week-end and sometimes on weekdays. 

The last report received was very loud fireworks being set off middle of last week.  Fireworks usually happen between 9:3pm-11:30pm and last sometimes for several minutes and are extremely loud, according to neighbors. 

Neighbors are requesting that "if anyone knows who is doing it to please stop as it causing a great deal of stress for families and espeically for pets" one neighbor told the Laurelhurst Blog.

 

Here are some reports from neighbors:

Last month a large amoutn of fireworks was let off at the Park. These fireworks were special: they woke everyone up and added to terrified dogs already worst day of the year. The risk is fires, fireworks gone wrong, injury from a delayed explosion and not super great for the environment. Begs the question: is there anything we can do to prevent this at parks with multiple points of entry?

The nightly fireworks are extremely tressful for pets and sleeping families, including elderly and adults. It is extremely insensitive of whomever is doing this causing such anxiety on so many people and so late at night.

The fireworks are usually so loud and long that is actually seemed like cars were blowing up as the sound echoes and magnifies off the school and the hospital on the north side of the park. It is extremely scarey, jarring and traumatic for so many people.

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.

Some neighbors may not know that there are at least 3 families of nesting eagles in our neighborhood. Please also consider the other birds and the many, many pets (especially dogs) in Laurelhurst.

The people that are doing this are not only committing a crime but are in violation of the City Ordinance as they over the allowed decibel level, especially when they are being set off so close to homes.

What about the sick children at the Hospital being awoken and terrified by the loud noise of the fireworks?

Fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. SPD advises to use the 625-5011 line to report any fireworks violations.

Neighbors Plea To Stop Letting Off Fireworks Causing Huge Distress For Families and Pets

The Laurelhurst Blog has received numerous emails about people letting off fireworks in the park almost nightly from July through last month. They usually happen between 9:3pm-11:30pm and last sometimes for several minutes and are extremely loud. 

fireworks found in the park

Here are some emails from neighbors:

Last month a large amoutn of fireworks was let off at the Park. These fireworks were special: they woke everyone up and added to terrified dogs already worst day of the year. The risk is fires, fireworks gone wrong, injury from a delayed explosion and not super great for the environment. Begs the question: is there anything we can do to prevent this at parks with multiple points of entry?

The nightly fireworks are extremely tressful for pets and sleeping families, including elderly and adults. It is extremely insensitive of whomever is doing this causing such anxiety on so many people and so late at night.

The fireworks are usually so loud and long that is actually seemed like cars were blowing up as the sound echoes and magnifies off the school and the hospital on the north side of the park. It is extremely scarey, jarring and traumatic for so many people.

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.

Some neighbors may not know that there are at least 3 families of nesting eagles in our neighborhood. Please also consider the other birds and the many, many pets (especially dogs) in Laurelhurst.

The people that are doing this are not only committing a crime but are in violation of the City Ordinance as they over the allowed decibel level, especially when they are being set off so close to homes.

What about the sick children at the Hospital being awoken and terrified by the loud noise of the fireworks?

Firworks are illegal in the City of Seattle. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. SPD advises to use the 625-5011 line to report any fireworks violations.

Firework Tips

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.  

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.

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.

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.

Illegal Firepit Built In Tree Stump At Park And Fireworks Not Allowed Anywhere In City



A neighbor alerted the Laurelhurst Blog that someone has built a fire pit in a tree stump at the park, and coincidentally right next to the Ctiy fire pit.

The neighbor said "It's pretty bad.  That's all I know. Why they couldn't use the fire pit 100' away is unknown."

The City Municipal Code 18.12.270 - Fires says:

It is unlawful (a) to ignite or maintain any fire or to participate in igniting, maintaining or using any fire within any park except in a designated stove or fire ring or (b) to ignite in any stove or fire ring any household rubbish or other material banned from outdoor burning by air pollution control regulations, or (c) to ignite or maintain a fire in any fire ring during any stage on an air pollution episode declared by the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency. All fires within parks are prohibited between the hours of eleven p.m. (11:00 p.m.) and six a.m. (6:00 a.m.).

 

 

 

The Seattle Parks and Recreation website says:

Light fires only in designated fire pits. Burn only clean firewood like bare, clean dry cordwood (chemically treated wood like lumber releases a strong-smelling, dirty smoke into the air and burning pallets can leave nails and debris on the beach) Douse your fire completely with water before leaving. Dispose of trash and ashes in the containers provided for each.  Be considerate of others – no amplified music Alcohol is not permitted in Seattle parks. 

 

Also Seattle Police Department and Police reminds residents that fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle:

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. 

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. The holiday related fires and injuries are preventable. 

On the 4th of July, 911 centers 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. Unnecessary 911 calls block people with real emergencies from reaching 911 and getting help. 

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 

The Laurelhurst Park closes at 10pm daily.

Extremely Loud Fireworks Going Off Nightly And Fire Department Responds To Incident At Park Fire Pit

Three loud booms from fireworks were heard around Laurelhurst Elementary School and beyond on Saturday night, July 26th, from 10:15-10:30pm.

Neighbors have reported hearing fireworks almost every night in this area since the week before July 4th, though none have been as loud as the ones on Saturday. Some neighbors think they are coming from the Laurelhurst Elementary School playgrounds and the Park.

One neighbor said he heard a car drive by his house on 46th Avenue NE honking 3 times, then after that no more fireworks were heard. He seemed to think that the people in the car driving by were responsible for the fireworks and were honking to let neighbors know they were done bothering people.

Another neighbor who lives on NE 43rd Street just east of the park wrote:

Someone has been setting off fireworks on a regular basis between 9PM and 10PM near NE 43rd Street, east of the Park. This is highly inconsiderate as it make our dog a nervous wreck and wakes our child up. Please respect your neighbors.

Terri Johnson, Seattle Police North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, says:

Seattle Police Department and Police want to remind you that fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle. Call 9-1-1 to report fireworks.

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them.

Also on Sunday, July 27th around 9pm, a firetruck responded to the firepit at Laurelhurst Park, perhaps to put out a smoldering fire, a neighbor told us who lives near there.

Many Neighbors Not Happy Over Loud Fireworks Going Off Every Night

We have received many emails about loud fireworks going off the last few nights.

Here is one email we received:

The last few nights we've been hearing firecrackers and fireworks being set off in the middle of the night between the hours of 2:00 - 2:00am.

Would you please kindly remind our neighbors, esp. those with kids, teenagers, and/or adult insomniac pyromaniacts that:

• Fireworks in the Seattle City limits are banned
• We must obey the noise ordinances for the health and sanity of the neighborhood and community
• The 4th of July is over!

Here is the City's Public Nuisance Noise Ordiance (25.08.280): "Public nuisance noise" means any any unreasonable sound which either annoys, injures, interferes with or endangers the

comfort, repose, health or safety of an entire community or neighborhood, although the extent ofdamage may be unequal.  
 

For more information on noise control go to the City's website here.

And I would highly encourage all neighbors to please call the police when hearing fireworks to stop this.

 

 

 

 

Seattle Police Reminder That Fireworks Illegal In Seattle

Terri Johnson, Seattle Police North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, sent out this helpful information for today:

Seattle Police and Fire Department want to remind you that fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or $5,000 fine.

Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. (Not to mention the stress our pets experience) Every year the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks related fires and injuries. The holiday related fires and injuries are preventable.

Our 9-1-1 center becomes overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls on the 4^th of July. For this day only, DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help from police, fire or medics. If you know me or my work, you know that it is my constant endeavor to encourage the public to use 9-1-1 to report suspicious circumstances, in addition to reporting crime.

HOWEVER, my message applies to all days of the year except July 4^th. This is the busiest day of the year for our Call Center. Reports of fireworks; barking dogs; drunken parties; gunshots fired; boating mishaps; burns; noise complaints, etc. are commonplace during this holiday. Delays in dispatch are a reality. If possible use the 625-5011 line to report any fireworks violations.

Police Reminder: Fireworks Prohibited And Use Non-Emergency Line Today For Fireworks Related Calls

Terri Johnson, Seattle Police North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, sent some helpful information about use of fireworks today:

Seattle Police Department  and Police want to remind you that fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle.  

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited.  Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.  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.  The holiday related fires and injuries are preventable. 

Our 9-1-1 center becomes overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls on the 4th of July.  For this day only, DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help from police, fire or medics.   

If you know me or my work, you know that it is my constant endeavor to encourage the public to use 9-1-1 to report suspicious circumstances, in addition to reporting crime.  HOWEVER,  my message applies to all days of the year except July 4th.   

This is the busiest day of the year for our Call Center. Reports of fireworks; barking dogs; drunken parties; gunshots fired; boating mishaps;  burns, noise complaints, etc. are commonplace during this holiday.  Delays in dispatch are a reality.  

If possible use the 625-5011 line to report any fireworks violations.