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Come Enjoy the 4th at Lake Union, Just Leave the Fireworks at Home

With the 4th of July coming up this Tuesday, the Seattle Police Department would like to provide you with some important reminders about safety, fireworks and how you can help ease the strain on our 911 center during the busy holiday.

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale and use of fireworks (meaning everything but pop-it caps) is prohibited in Seattle, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

But don’t fret, you can still enjoy the fireworks at SeaFair’s 4th of July event on Lake Union!

If you do attend Seafair’s Fourth of July event, here’s a list of things they’d like you to leave at home:

Prohibited Items
-Drones
-Personal Barbecues
-Marijuana & Other Illegal Drugs
-Alcohol
-Fireworks
-Pets
-Weapons & Firearms
-Tents & Tent Stakes
-Glass Bottles

And please don’t leave any bags, packages or other items unattended during the festivities.

911 call centers are typically inundated on the 4th with reports of fireworks-related injuries and house fires.

Because of that influx of calls, please only use 911 to report life-threatening emergencies. We are also unable to respond to fireworks complaints (or any other crime reports, for that matter) sent via Twitter.

While the Seattle Police Department values every call from neighbors about concerns in their communities, the Fourth is typically been a loud and busy day for police and firefighters, and frequent fireworks noise complaints make it more difficult for 911 operators, police, and fire officials to respond to life-threatening emergencies across the city.

DO CALL 911: to report fires, injuries, crimes, or any other life-threatening incidents.

DO NOT CALL 911: to complain about noise from fireworks.

If you do have concerns about fireworks in your neighborhood, but nothing has been damaged and no one has been injured, you can still call the Seattle Police non-emergency number at (206) 625-5011.
You can also help emergency responders on the 4th by keeping the intersection of Belmont Ave and Bellevue Pl. E. clear for emergency vehicles. In recent years, the intersection has become a popular spot during 4th Festivities, which is problematic as it’s also a direct link between Lakeview and South Lake Union. Please help police keep the street clear this year.

Neighborhoods to the north of Gas Works Park (from North 40th Street to North Northlake Way) will be closed to all but local access traffic starting at noon. Valley Street will be closed from Westlake to Fairview all day–from 12:01 a.m. to midnight. Expect heavy congestion in the neighborhoods surrounding Lake Union.

Officers will be stationed at the intersections, allowing residents and their party attendees into the area. If you’re driving to a party in the marked areas, please obtain a written invitation from your party hosts, including their address!

Please check out the Seattle Department of Transportation’s traffic site for updates throughout the day and have a safe, fun Fourth of July!