But they had to admit they were impressed with the community on the Fourth of July.

Both said at the City Council meeting July 6 that they noticed some restraint by residents because of the dry conditions. Not as many people shot off fireworks before July 4, which is illegal anyway. Those calls dropped from 129 in 2014 to 71 this year.

And people were much better about shooting them off in the legal timeframe.

“It was a lot quieter this year, especially after 11” p.m., Smith said.

He said the number of calls were up some from last year, but he feels that’s because people were more scared because of the threat of fire.

“One-third of the calls were unfounded,” he said. “They were not illegal fireworks.”

McFalls said even though the number of his calls were up seven to 79, he felt people were being more responsible.

“Even those who normally would just light them up and not think about it” were using garden hoses and shovels to put out fires. “They were out or nearly out by the time we responded,” he said.

Public Works director Kevin Nielsen said water use became an issue. He said 12 million gallons of water were used that day. The norm is five million.

“There was so much watering; people didn’t want things to burn up, that I went into panic mode,” Nielsen said. “I didn’t want to call the mayor. I was afraid he’d have a heart attack.”

Chief Administrative Officer Gloria Hirashima said the lack of water could have caused major problems if there had been a big fire.

Smith said police gave out 120 warnings, but only one citation. They made one felony arrest for arson after one resident lit up a tree July 5.

The city’s new law banning possession of fireworks in parks helped, Smith said. The parks were clean, parks director Jim Ballew added.

Police also gave out educational material in seven problem neighborhoods that show which fireworks are legal, and which are not.

Smith noted that one-third of the calls were outside the city. So Council Member Donna Wright said even if the city did ban fireworks it would only stop one-third of the fire district’s calls.

Councilman Michael Stevens said he normally is gone on July 4, “usually by design,” but he was home this year and thought it was loud. But he heard from others it was “much more subdued” than usual. “I just want a ban next to me,” he joked.

Councilman Jeff Seibert said he usually has 12-15 bottle rockets in his yard, but there was nothing this year.

Councilman Stephen Muller said he noticed fewer fireworks before the Fourth, but on the holiday he was in Woodinville, which does have a ban. It didn’t seem to work there, he added.

“I don’t know how you ban these things,” he said. “People light them off everywhere you go.”

McFalls said considering how dry the area is the community was fortunate.

“In thirty years I can’t remember any time this hot,” he said. “It was pretty scary. It could have been a lot worse.”