600 Celebrate Fourth With Pledge Of Allegiance In Seattle Firefighters Kept Busy By Numerous Private Pyrotechnics Displays

More than 600 Seattle-area residents celebrated the Fourth of July by becoming new U.S. citizens, while others simply partied in the sun.

The immigrants from more than four dozen countries cheered and wept with joy after taking the oath of citizenship at a sun-drenched ceremony Friday at Seattle Center.

Gov. Gary Locke addressed the crowd, recalling his own mother’s naturalization at a Fourth of July ceremony more than 40 years ago.

“In my eyes, the day she became a citizen she became a bigger, more powerful person,” Locke said. “And I know she felt that way, too.”

“Like millions of other immigrant families, we’ve both benefited from the American dream and helped to shape it,” he said. “I hope that you will help shape America as well.”

One relieved new citizen was Muriel Bush, 66, who was born in England. Because of an error by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, she had been told she wouldn’t be able to become a citizen on Friday. Some last-minute paper shuffling solved the problem.

“We’re real happy,” said Bush’s husband, Charles, who also became a citizen at the ceremony. “It is a momentous occasion.”

The Fourth of July meant something different for firefighters around Washington. While hundreds of thousands of people turned out to watch professional fireworks displays in Seattle and elsewhere, firefighters were kept busy by numerous blazes touched off by people who chose to set off their own pyrotechnics.

“In 15 years I’ve never seen it this busy on the Fourth of July,” Maple Valley Fire Lt. Tim Sanderson said. “South King County just exploded.”

“This year is probably the first year it’s been hot and sunny in four to five years,” added Lt. Mike DeHart of the Kent Fire Department. “We’ve seen a significant rise in fires related to fireworks.”

Hospital officials treated several people for fireworks-related injuries, but no deaths were immediately reported.

“It’s been hoppin’ out there, right and left,” said Sgt. Al Zurlo of the Snohomish County sheriff’s office.

“It’s typical July Fourth madness. The fact that the temperature’s getting warmer is frying brain cells.”

In Tacoma, where the temperature hit a record-tying 90 days, tens of thousands of people turned out for the Bite of Tacoma food festival and for the Freedom Fair in Ruston.

“Usually by now we’re soaking wet,” said Bite of Tacoma patron Jordan Harris of Lakewood. “This is the best weather in … years.”