UPDATE: People setting off fireworks blamed for High Point fire that burned close to homes

| High Point | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

3:25 PM: Another brush-fire response – and this time it’s big enough that Seattle Fire has just upgraded it to “brush fire major.” It was described as at least 30 feet by 40 feet, in the 5900 block of High Point Drive. It’s near the pond, firefighters are telling dispatch.

3:30 PM: Added the photo above, from Erik O, who says this was sparked by “a large firework.”

3:34 PM: They’re getting a handle on it, so dismissing some of the response. Side note – we covered a similar fire in this spot, this time of year, eight years ago.

3:45 PM: If you’re in the area and noticing a helicopter, that’s just the helicopter that local TV stations share.

4:45 PM: The fire is extinguished but burned perilously close to homes, as photos shared by commenters show. (And the one added above, from Tori.) We’re there checking into the aftermath too.

4:58 PM: The charred slope is extensive – that’s the best we could do to show how extensive.

Stefanie July 5, 2023 (3:31 pm)

We live right down the street- heard the firework and a few minutes later the fire trucks came by.

Longfellow Creek July 5, 2023 (3:45 pm)

That’s what I was literally saying to my daughter now a chopper is circling around
Stefanie July 5, 2023 (3:47 pm)

Looks to be under control now

Rick Farfalle July 5, 2023 (3:34 pm)

I can confirm I heard a large firework go off about 40minutes ago. I wish we had the resources to enforce firework restrictions in the city. The PNW is always a powder keg around the Fourth of July.

John July 5, 2023 (3:53 pm)

“I wish we had the resources to enforce firework restrictions in the city”. Definitely agree!
Alki July 5, 2023 (4:54 pm)

Maybe we could procure some of those resources by starting to actually enforce and issue/collect fines. It could be a virtuous cycle.
- anonyme July 5, 2023 (5:50 pm)
  
  Exactly. If a law enforcement crew were assigned to just hand out fines for these crimes, it would more than pay itself, as well as send a clear message that this dangerous and disruptive BS will no longer be tolerated. Meanwhile, it looks like the pond has been contaminated with toxic fire-retardant chemicals as well as fire damage to the landscape. If the perp can be found he should be charged with arson and property damage.
  - Danimal July 5, 2023 (10:39 pm)
    
    What would you rather? Molecular-bond breaking fire foam, or the loss of people’s homes, belongings, livelihoods, and potentially lives? Reconsider what you complain about when there aren’t better alternatives and cannot be.
    - WSB July 5, 2023 (10:49 pm)
      
      Actually there ARE better alternatives and that’s what SFD uses, as noted in other threads:
      https://novacool.com
    - Danimal July 6, 2023 (3:50 am)
      
      I saw that. I was referring to what SFD uses, which I understood to be more environmentally friendly, but not perfect. Just clicked the link and it appears that it is completely non toxic. Thanks for the clarification.
    - school bus driver July 6, 2023 (7:28 am)
      
      Thanks for the link!
    - anonyme July 6, 2023 (6:34 am)
      
      Are you being deliberately obtuse? The point is that the pond should not have been contaminated at all as this fire should never have happened. No one has suggested that the fire should have been allowed to destroy homes and kill people in order to save the pond. Not everything is an either/or black/white situation. Please, contain your hyperbolic hysteria.
  - FireLT July 6, 2023 (12:31 pm)
    
    The Seattle fire department uses Novacool foam. It’s biodegradable. http://novacoolfoam.com/Check it out.

Leelee July 5, 2023 (3:36 pm)

I live in high point. A few blocks from the pond. Fireworks have been going off in the little parks in this neighborhood for days, and late at night/early am hours too.hopefully this is a wake up call to everyone lighting them off.

Midi July 5, 2023 (3:42 pm)

I live a block away – heard several large fireworks going off, then silence, followed by the siren of the firetruck. <sigh> And now a helicopter

WSB July 5, 2023 (3:44 pm)

Just the shared TV helicopter.

Susan July 5, 2023 (3:43 pm)

Fire response showed up within minutes of that fire cracker going off. Kudos to our first responders.

George T July 5, 2023 (3:43 pm)

When that area was under development with the new housing construction I recall a large-ish fire also started by fireworks. The parade of sirens going past my house near Camp Long woke me up in the middle of the night.

Katrina N. July 5, 2023 (3:53 pm)

I live right next to the pond and made the 911 call. Our building evacuated and crews are working now to suppress all burned areas. It seems the last of the crews are finishing suppression and packing up. Thank you SFD for the quick response and keeping us all safe <3

Jon July 6, 2023 (8:09 am)

Any chance you or one of your neighbors caught who was doing it on a camera? Would love to turn it over to SPD.

Daniel July 5, 2023 (3:55 pm)

Live right above it and heard extremely loud close fire works, then got nearly smoked out after. The fire also went up the side nearly touching a large condo building above, it’s all scorched.

~Hockeywitch~ July 5, 2023 (3:57 pm)

People need to start heeding the Fire Danger Warnings.. All the fires last night and now this.. We are Asked/Told NOT to do it, but some are so entitled to still light off fireworks. THEY ARE ILLEGAL IN SEATTLE!!! This time a park and grass, next time another persons house… Stop being selfish. Learn to celebrate a new way..

Midi July 5, 2023 (4:01 pm)

Just walked down, this was indeed big and within feet of several houses. Props to the quick response of firemen, and police now also here

KSJ July 5, 2023 (4:05 pm)

Thank you to our fire fighters. They must be exhausted in this heat, and after the constant brush fire calls yesterday.

Katrina July 5, 2023 (4:28 pm)

Several years ago a house that was under construction less than a block down the hill from there burned down due to fireworks. When will people learn.

Laura July 5, 2023 (11:16 pm)

I was convinced that the construction site on 30th was going to burn down last night. I’m glad I was wrong, but apparently they’re not done blowing things up yet? Just yikes all around.

Rara July 5, 2023 (5:05 pm)

My son is a fire cadet. He shut everything down at a gathering when he knew things were not ok. I applaud him in his training. Thank you to the Seattle Fire Department.

Betsy July 5, 2023 (9:34 pm)

Thank you to your son. It takes guts to stand up to a crowd of people wanting to have a “good time.”
Danimal July 5, 2023 (10:41 pm)

Awesome. Signed, former Wildland Firefighter. I’d have done the same.

Suzanne July 5, 2023 (5:09 pm)

This is what the fire at Solstice looked like last night and it was no where near the size of today’s fire

Crystal July 5, 2023 (5:23 pm)

My understanding is using or selling personal fireworks are now illegal in ALL of Washing state. Since reservations are nor part of the state they may be sold & used on reservation property. Why can’t a border crossing be set up to confiscate illegal fireworks as they cross into state property. Might be assisted by scouts trying to earn 1st class.

Boop July 5, 2023 (6:20 pm)

Not that I disagree with your frustration about fireworks, but are you really advocating for unlawfully searching all vehicles as they leave the reservation property?! And… have Scouts help?!
MW July 5, 2023 (6:24 pm)

It’s Legal to sell and discharge fireworks in most of WA during specific date/time ranges. Unincorporated King county recently banned them you may be referring to that. But each city & county has its own regulations and many allow it during their own specific time window.
Andrew July 5, 2023 (7:11 pm)

It’s because we aren’t fascists.
Rhonda July 5, 2023 (8:01 pm)

Your understanding is wrong. Fireworks are legal in the vast majority of our state’s 71,362 square miles. Our son was in Boy Scouts and would NEVER violate the 4th Amendment rights of his fellow citizens and legal residents as you suggest.

Vigilante July 5, 2023 (5:35 pm)

Did they arrest the a-holes who blew off the fireworks? They need to be made an example of! nice job destroying a public space and risking lives in the process.

Bella July 5, 2023 (6:09 pm)

I live in the neighborhood and have noticed people lighting off fireworks since last week. I feel it is unsafe but didn’t know how to stop them. It is a beautiful neighborhood and I feel so bad that the grass was burnt and how close the fire was to the house. Is there any suggestion how we can keep everyone aware of the firework risks and celebrate holidays in a safer way?

David M July 5, 2023 (6:16 pm)

AHoles kept shooting off fireworks till 3 AM thus morning in upper Gatewood, keeping me from sleep. No regard whatsoever to those who have to get up at 4:15 AM FOR WORK! Hope they burned themselves on the fireworks…. 🤣🤣

TS July 5, 2023 (6:55 pm)

Just like we say “driver hit pedestrian” in car collisions, we should probably say, “stupid idiots with illegal fireworks blamed for fire at XYZ..” The firework isn’t really the thing to blame. The persons are to blame.

WSB July 5, 2023 (8:56 pm)

You have an excellent point, though I’m going to use “people” rather than the subjective description.

Resident July 5, 2023 (8:00 pm)

I live in one of those buildings. We evacuated with our pets.

Yes, fire teams arrived quickly both this time and 8 years ago, and that is still how quickly fire got up the slope, within a few feet of our property line (last time actually burned the fence). Many people called 911. I actually heard the fire and recognized the sound of burning flames way too large for a campfire, as I have had to flee a fire before. I had been out on my balcony late last night because of this very fear.

Fire goes much, much faster uphill. Many people don’t understand how quickly fires can move, especially uphill, or how fast buildings may burn once ignited. I know people who have lost all their pets in housefires. I don’t know if this site allows links or not, but you can easily find out online about how fire travels. Here’s just one description from a quick Google search: “Fires can travel quickly: up to 6 miles-per-hour in forests and up to 14 miles-per-hour in grasslands. If you have an upward-slope to your terrain, the flames can travel even faster; an extra 10 degrees of slope will double the speed of your fire.”

This dry grassy slope, not properly prepared in time for the 4th of July, is a deathtrap waiting to happen, and I’ve had nightmares about this for the past 8 years. People need to educate their children about the danger of causing fires, that this could result in deaths. If it was an adult who set off this firework, I hope they are found and charged–both criminally and made to pay the costs of the clean-up, restoring health to the drainage pond, etc.

I was only eleven when I had to run from a forest fire. It gave me an understanding of the danger that it seems many kids, and adults, lack today. I hope these people never find out the hard way.

HappyHolidays July 5, 2023 (8:01 pm)

As I’m reading these comments, someone is launching fireworks nearby. Apparently, last night was not enough. Sadly, these pyromaniacs are most likely not aware of warnings from the local SFD or aware that today’s haziness and poor air quality are because of their participation in last night’s illegal firework display. I’m not even sure if they know that there is a ban on all fireworks. I don’t know what the solution is. If fines were actually given out, maybe some folks would think twice about setting off fireworks but that only works if fines are actually given out. It would be interesting to know if any violations were handed out by SPD last night.

Pauline July 5, 2023 (8:09 pm)

I parked away from my house and made the 911 call at 3:14 pm. The fire works (ones you light late night) came from the direction of the hill. A gentleman on the scooter below shouted for the individual (not sure if he saw or shouted directly uphill where the condos/apartment were) to “stop fireworks as you’re causing a fire!” I spotted the patches on pond but didn’t know the sparks sprinkled to where the houses were up top. A gentleman came with a small fire extinguisher and community kids try to stop the fire (one using his jacket). I’m thankful it didnt touch the houses! Great work on first responders and back up responders!

High Point resident July 5, 2023 (8:24 pm)

I live in High Point and have witnessed at least 15 very large fireworks set off within sight of my home since this fire. Is there guidance on reporting these? My children are terrified because of the fire and cannot get to sleep with the explosions happening every 10 minutes or so. This is so unsafe.

KSJ July 5, 2023 (8:54 pm)

If I saw this happening I would call 911. It’s not 4th of July any more and there have been 2 more brush fires in the past hour.
Delridge neighbor July 5, 2023 (9:38 pm)

Is there community/blockwatch in High Point? There used to be Guardian One patrols. Can neighbors sit out with hoses and watch for miscreants? I know people do that in other parts of the country. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. North Delridge sounded like Ukraine last night.

Midi July 5, 2023 (8:26 pm)

I think there’s more fireworks being set off right now in this exact same spot. Apparently almost burning people’s homes down wasn’t enough

KSJ July 5, 2023 (8:55 pm)

It’s just so frustrating.

WestSideRez July 6, 2023 (3:03 pm)

Maybe take pictures or video of the people lighting off the fireworks and letting them know they have been recorded. Any damage caused by them could lead to them being arrested, or at least sued by those who had property damage. Maybe people would think twice if they knew there could be repercussions.

Admiral-2009 July 6, 2023 (10:40 pm)

WestSideRez – yes a good civil lawsuit against a perp caught doing or causing property damage is needed.

The criminal justice system is broken leaving victims being victimized twice once by the perp and second time by the system that fails to make the perp accountable.

OverIt July 6, 2023 (11:06 pm)

It’s probably the same group of menaces that have been lighting them off near Walt Huntley playfield since Monday night. They scorched a tree on the corner of Myrtle and 30th too. They light them, toss them on the ground (even though they should be aerial), and race off in their group of cars when the firework is shooting off in every direction they weren’t intended to go. Oh, and all the trash they leave behind…..Over them and their antics. Accountability is important and consequences are lacking these days. What’s stopping them? I guess we’ll wait until they kill someone either by running them over while racing near a park or burning down a house. Cops knew who they were and said they’ve been all over the neighborhood. All had no license plates which is also apparently legal these days. I quote the officer that responded to the Monday night tree fire, “pretty much can’t stop them unless they’re in the middle of a murder”.

anonyme July 7, 2023 (2:01 pm)

It’s high time that this city took the problem of illegal fireworks seriously. This issue has been ignored for years, and like other illegal activities that have been ignored, the problem has burgeoned. Set up emphasis patrols and hand out as many citations as possible – no warning, no excuses. A few thousand citations (or even a few hundred) should handily cover the costs of such patrols and also serve as a deterrent. Belligerent and/or resistant participants (probably drunk) are welcome to spend a night or two in jail at their own expense. Enough of allowing lawbreakers to terrorize the rest of Seattle’s residents.

Sorry, comment time is over.