WTF is up with the Puget Sound area and the illegal fireworks?

[progressivebydesign]

this is one thing I have not gotten used to. What is the thrill of blowing something up? Cuz they're shooting off all the fireworks and it's broad daylight. It was bad last night, but tonight will be like a war zone again. Since most of us have cedar shake roofs, what are they thinking? And every year, on July 5th, we'll see the stories on the news about the burned down apartment buildings, etc.

[glitch]

1. I hate it too. The 4th is ruined for me because of all the cheap firecrackers.

It was worse when I had a dog that literally freaked. I had to dope him with Valerian for the whole week.
My friends go to Canada every Fourth just to miss it. I don't think it's just the Puget Sound area though.

I hate New Year's now too.

[progressivebydesign]

2. Yeah, my poor dog is cowering under my desk..

I fear for her life, honestly. She's shaking so hard and drooling and panting. I dont' remember her being this bad last year, but I dont' remember it being this bad last year. I don't how much it would take a high strung dog to die of cardiac arrest after this type of distress for a few hours. I had no idea it'd be this bad. OMG. And we all have wood roofs in this neighborhood, I'm shocked that people could be that lame. I don't remember this at all where i lived in California, I think its' the easy availability of illegal fireworks from the Reservation stands. Such a cop out, they can sell them to set off on reservation land, but everyone brings them back to their neighborhoods instead. :(

[glitch]

3. In CA the fireworks laws are enforced because of the extreme fire hazard.

It's insane to allow them around forests and/or wood shingle roofs. Here in Seattle they have fireworks laws but no one enforces them. They do enforce parking though, with a vengeance! Oh well, it's only twice a year, and it's almost over, thank God. Try Valerian for the poor pooch. It's safe and seems to help.

[eridani]

12. I remember Riverside CA fireworks

The fire department was always standing by, because the official city display always set Mt. Rubidoux on fire. It doesn't dry out enough in these parts for that to be a serious problem.

[sneakythomas]

4. This is the worst I've heard it

We live in the Bothell/Mill Creek area and "war zone" is not an exageration. The sound was one continuous roar. I'm amazed something close to us didn't burn down. I like a good fireworks display - in the hands of professionals. People just blowing up stuff day and night needs to stop.

[maxsolomon]

5. WTF is up is that this is America

sure, we're a bunch of smug tree hugging dope smoking prius drivers in the puget sound, but blowing shit up is as american as leaf blowers, jet skis & the blue angels. and we're americans whether we want to be or not.

in fact, this is a global phenomenon. humans like to blow shit up.

its not nice for dogs, but at least its not everyday.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

6. Our dogs got threw it alright.

Not too bad in Ballard Crown Hill this year.

[glitch]

13. It wasn't too bad in Ballard/Fremont area either, it's been much worse other years.

I have great new neighbors, I think that makes most of the difference. The booms from the Lake Union display did drift over a bit, but my dog only got a little peeved. :hi:

[geniph]

7. I take the three cats into the bedroom with me

close the windows, turn the air conditioner on high, turn on some music, and wait for it to be over. One of the cats was very very panicked at first, but eventually realized he was safe in there, and calmed down. The oldest cat just laid down, looking pissed off, and went to sleep. She's been through 11 of these before, she knows they end.

I'm pretty skittish about explosions and fires myself; I was anyway, but my next-door neighbor's house caught fire two weeks ago when his propane tank exploded, so now I'm REALLY skittish about explosions. The fire got so huge so fast, there was not a goddam thing we could do except get the neighbors out (they're in their late 80s) and stand there, waiting to watch my own house burn down. The cops wouldn't even let me back in to get my cats out. Thankfully, the fire department was johnny-on-the-spot and got the fire put out before it spread to anything except the canopy under which I park. They saved most of the neighbor's house, too.

I don't know where the hell people get the MONEY for all that crap - fireworks are EXPENSIVE. Why not go watch a nice, safe, FREE professional show instead of literally burning money? What's the thrill of spending $200 for two minutes of things that go BANG and SKREECH? I don't get it. Never have. Never will.

[maxsolomon]

8. you can go to summer camp to blow shit up!

http://dce.umr.edu/NonCredit/PreCollege/2005_Summer_Explosives_Camp.html

Ever wonder how dynamite works? What about fireworks? At the 2005 Summer Explosives Camp, you will not only learn how these things work, you will actually be able to get hands on experience! You will learn:

1. How to prime and shoot dynamite.
2. Safety precautions when handling explosives.
3. Where explosives are used.
4. The curriculum and department of Mining Engineering at UMR.
5. What careers are available that are explosive related.
6. How underground blasts work.
7. How explosives are used in industry.
8. How to set up and shoot off a fireworks display.
9. And much more!

What Will You Do?

At the 2005 Summer Explosives Camp you will have the unique opportunity to have hands-on learning experience with explosives: the first and only camp of its kind! The course will comprise a variety of lectures, demonstrations, handling & shooting of explosives, field trips, projects and culminate in the setup and shooting of a fireworks display. It will encompass detonators, high explosives, blasting agents, rock blasting, display fireworks and demolition. You will have a behind the- scenes look at how explosives are used in industry and in entertainment. But the number one thing that you will do at the Summer Explosives Camp is have fun!

[uppityperson]

11. Pyrotechnique camp? Cool.

Learn what you are doing if you are going to do it. Very good.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

9. I know what you mean,

when I first moved to this area in 1988, I could not beleive the 4th of July! It was like every adult man in the neighborhood was 12 again! It's pretty wierd I think............. :shrug:

[flamingyouth]

10. I have no idea.

The news is just filled with fires caused by fireworks. The public displays here are so beautiful, if you want to see fireworks.

And what's the deal with the people in Olympia who had the cannon that killed the 8-year-old boy? Who the hell needs a cannon??? That is just awful.

[ManiacJoe]

15. What's wrong with wanting a cannon? (n/t)

[SeattleGirl]

14. The person who lives in the house just behind us does his own

illegal fireworks show every 4th. This year's was horrible; lots and lots of big, booming sounds. My poor animals were really freaked out this year. The downstairs kitty was cowering in the corner, the dog was clinging to us, and the two upstairs cats disappeared to God knows where until they were over.

The worst thing was, even though this guy has in the past been pretty careful, a lot of the fireworks went off sideways, into our yard, which is lined with trees on one side (the side nearest where he was setting them off.) When he was done, I took a walk all around the house to make sure nothing was on fire!