Fireworks calls to Kirkland Police Department up this year

Kirkland’s Fourth of July celebration saw a rise in police calls from last year for firework complaints, though no arrests were made.

Kirkland’s Fourth of July celebration saw a rise in police calls from last year for firework complaints, though no arrests were made.

The sale and discharge of fireworks is prohibited in Kirkland.

According to Kirkland Police Department spokesperson Lt. Mike Murray, the KPD received 75 calls on Saturday regarding fireworks, with an additional 200 calls ranging from noise complaints for parties to traffic incidents. Last year, KPD received 60 calls.

A total of 12 warnings and one citation were issued to people for illegally discharging fireworks, but no arrests were made. Murray said it is extremely difficult for officers to make citations because they have to actually see the people discharge the fireworks and by the time they arrive at where the fireworks were lit the people have either left or are impossible to identify.

According to event organizers, Kirkland’s Fourth of July celebration had the largest parade in its history and drew the largest crowd, with an estimated 35-45,000 people attending throughout the day.