Kirkland needs to take its own fireworks ban seriously.

I live in the Finn Hill annexation area, or what should be known as “the war zone” during the Fourth of July. My neighborhood is notorious for having many dangerous and illegal fireworks including M-80s, bottle rockets, and other loud and exploding type aerial fireworks.

I had hoped this year that the Kirkland fireworks ban would limit the amount of noise and chaos that results from the use of these fireworks. However, the fireworks were just as bad as ever, and there appeared to be little if any enforcement of the ban. I attempted to report violations to the city, however it was extremely difficult to get through on the non-emergency phone line publicized by the City of Kirkland.

I truly hope Kirkland beefs up patrols and citations considerably next year and starts to actually enforce the ban they have in place because our neighborhood children, pets, and elderly deserve a true ban.

Matt Saavedra, Kirkland