Another Fourth of July fireworks show and it seemed to go off without a hitch. I watched the show from Fremont Bridge, which worked out quite well. Got a great view, heard just enough of the music and watching the fireworks behind Aurora Bridge was a pretty cool sight.

• SeattlePI has a whole bunch of photos from the festivities.

• The Lake Union fireworks made the Washington Post’s collection of fireworks displays from around the country.

• MyWallingford has a great photo from the evening.

• One Queen Anne teen lost a finger in a fireworks accident.

Looks like it’s going to be a nice day. Combine that with tonight’s festivities and it should be a fantastic Fourth.

Couple notes from the SPD and SFD to get you on your way today…

The Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department would like to remind the public that fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle.

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

Any fireworks-related fires or injuries should be reported directly to 911. Other fireworks violations may be reported by calling the Seattle Police non-emergency number at (206) 625-5011.

As a heads-up as to what’s open, what’s on and what’s not happening today…

• Garbage, food and yard waste, and recycling collections will be on normal schedule. The North Recycling and Disposal Station will be closed, but the South Recycling and Disposal Station will be open.
• All Neighborhood Service Centers will be closed.
• Metro Transit bus routes will be operating on a Sunday schedule.
• Libraries will be closed. Book drops at the Fremont library will be open, but the one at the Central Library will be closed.
• The post office will be closed and there will be no regular mail delivery.
• The liquor store in Ballard (2840 N.W. Market St) will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., because I know you were wondering…

Wow, what a show! First, the rain soaked thousands of people to the bone (including us) at Gas Works Park. Then just before 10 p.m., the rain stopped, the skies cleared, and the fireworks lit up the night.

Photo from Joey Anchondo, Seattle Times. See more photos here.

“That was the best ever!” said KING 5 anchor Dennis Bounds, who has presided over many fireworks shows at Lake Union. Our sister blog in Wallingford has all the coverage, from the spectacular show to the scene in Wallingford.

I’ve always enjoyed the fireworks on July 4th. The lights, the noise, it all seems spectacular to me, and mesmerizing. But for pets and other animals, the celebration has quite the opposite effect, often traumatic. Every year, pets go missing, running sometimes great distances and doing unusual things in a panic to get away from those big booms in the sky.

I even wrote about it once – from my imaginary pet’s POV.

This year, Regional Animal Services has partnered with a nonprofit organization that will set up a temporary tent outside of the Kent animal shelter (21615 – 64th Ave. S.) to assist residents who are looking for lost pets scared off by fireworks. Regional Animal Services is closed to the public on July 4, but on July 5, 6 and 7, volunteers from the Missing Pet Partnership will be stationed outside of the Kent shelter from noon to 6:00 p.m. The shelter will also have extended hours on July 5, from noon to 6:00 p.m. to help owners search for lost pets.

They will also help those who do not find their pet by providing materials for making flyers and writing “lost pet” messages on personal vehicles.

Here are their tips on how to prepare your pet for the holiday:

1. Make sure pets are wearing at least two forms of current identification. This can be a personalized tag and a pet license (make sure your contact information is up to date with your licensing agency), a microchip and a pet license, or a combination thereof. Identified pets have a greater chance of quickly being returned to their owners.
2. Keep your pets indoors in the quietest room of your house while fireworks are audible. Give them lots of reassurance. Play soothing music as a distraction.
3. Have phone numbers handy for the closest animal emergency hospitals and animal shelters. If your pet becomes lost, on July 5th you can call 206-296-PETS (7387) and press 3 for King County Animal Care and Control’s “Lost Pet Hotline” and a list of lost or stray pets currently in the shelter. For pets registered with the Seattle Animal Shelter, contact (206) 386-PETS (7387).

Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and a safety risk to those who use them. Every year police and fire departments around King County respond to numerous fireworks-related fires and injuries.

All fireworks-related injuries and fires should be reported directly to 9-1-1. Complaints about fireworks use and noise should be directed to the non-emergency numbers.

King County reminds everyone that the use of fireworks is restricted or banned in many cities and areas of King County. Follow local laws and exercise caution while enjoying July 4th celebrations.

Here is a list of fireworks-related non-emergency phone numbers and other non-emergency contacts.

More than 50,000 people are expected in and around Gasworks Park to celebrate the fireworks festivities at the Family 4th at Lake Union on Sunday, from 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

The park opens at noon Sunday.

From 12 noon to 6 p.m., Seattle Police will set up a perimeter restricting traffic to “local access only” between Sunnyside Avenue N. on the east, Interlake Avenue N. on the west, N. 39th Street on the north and N. Northlake Way/GasWorks Park on the south. From 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the restricted traffic access perimeter will be go further to I-5 on the east, Stone Way N. on the west, N. 40th Street on the north and N Northlake Way/ Lake Union/Gas Works Park on the south.

Fireworks begin at 10 p.m.

The fireworks traditionally draws a lot of spectators on the water, as well. Boat traffic is expected to increase at least 30 percent on the Lake Union for the event. Boaters coming into the lake need to pass through the Lake Washington Ship Canal and keep the following times in mind: the Fremont Bridge will not open for marine traffic between 9 p.m. on the 4th until 12:30 a.m. on July 5th; the Ballard and University Bridge will not open for marine traffic from 10 p.m. on the 4th until 1:00 a.m. July 5.

The sponsor of this year’s Fourth of July fireworks at Gas Works Park, JPMorgan Chase, announced that it will not be picking up the $500,000 bill next year. This puts the show in jeopardy — the last remaining Seattle 4th of July fireworks show — unless a new sponsor steps forward in the middle of a recession. “It takes a special kind of company to do that, and I hope we find them,” said Norman Langill, the president of the company that organizes the show. “Otherwise we can’t do the event.

Benjamin Schroeter has filed suit to stop Seattle’s fireworks show at Gas Works Park on the basis of environmental impact. “I like fireworks, but the city should do some kind of review,” he told the Seattle Times, explaining he’s worried that people will stir up toxic materials in the soil and the fireworks may harm fish in Lake Union. The city maintains it believes it’s done a good job minimizing the risk of any environmental impact.

This bit of news struck a nerve with Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert (watch video). Thanks Steve for the link!