2017 was the 2nd year when legally discharging fireworks within the city limits was limited to just one day. While it sounded similar to a war zone the evening of the 3rd and especially the 4th due to both legal and illegal fireworks, firefighters and medics were reported to not having been much busier than the same days in recent years.
Whatcom County Fire District 7 Fire Chief Larry Hoffman said they responded to 46 alarms from July 3rd to July 5th. That compares with 43 calls during the same period in 2016 and 42 in 2015.
The alarms responded to included:
| 1 | structure fire responses with property damage estimated at less than $1000 (plus 1 mutual aid call with District 8) |
| 7 | Grass/brush fires |
| 1 | dumpster fire |
| 28 | Medical alarms |
| 8 | miscellaneous alarms (odor investigations and cancelled prior to arrival) |
Hoffman said District 7 had no reported injuries due to fireworks and property loss was minimal. “I would say from our perspective, this was a good year.”