Every year there’s a little less boom and flash, sparkle and burn in Auburn’s Fourth of July.

Between rainfall and humidity in the days leading up to the big night, police patrols, cooperation from the Muckleshoot Tribe and the Valley Regional Fire Authority’s public education efforts, this July 4 was relatively quiet.

But not everything was perfect.

The VRFA responded to 28 911 calls on July 4, and only four of those were fireworks related – one brush fire, one trash receptacle fire, one smoke investigation, and one explosion without damage or injuries. There were no house fires.

VRFA Fire Chief Stan Laatsch reported some problems in the newly-annexed West and Lea Hill areas, but added that was understandable given that the residents there found themselves living under new rules and a more palpable police presence.

“Down in the valley floor, the old city, it was actually pretty good this year,” Laatsch said.

Auburn Police Commander William Pierson said the department logged fewer calls. Precise numbers were not available at press time.

“I think we what we have noticed over the years is that education and enforcement seems to lessen the amount of calls as time goes by,” Pierson said. “Maybe the economy helped us a little this year, too. People did not have a lot of disposable income to spend on fireworks. I know we didn’t see as many people in the Muckleshoot discharge area or the stands.”

In fact, Muckleshoot Hill was a more peaceful place in the weeks leading up to July 4. Seeking to avert a city ban on fireworks, the Muckleshoot Tribe had agreed in June to enforce strict time limits on the hours of operation at the fireworks discharge area north of the casino — 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. City officials agreed to put off any ban for at least one more year, depending on how well the tribe lived up to its promises.

Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis said the Tribe did well up until the nights between July 2 and July 4, when he said there was a noticeable lack of control in the stand area. He said Auburn City Council members will be watching the few weeks to see how the tribe does with its cleanup efforts in the stand area.

Lewis said the calendar created its own headaches for Auburn residents this year.

“With this July 4 falling on a Friday, it blocked up the city,” Lewis said. “That was a big deal for a lot of people who have to live with that traffic frustration all year and in addition had to go through a really big backup to Highway 18 for a good part of the evening.”

According to VRFA spokeswoman Kimberly McDonald, the Fire Marshal’s Office staff transported, inventoried and safely stored illegal fireworks that police had confiscated in Auburn and Pacific. Auburn police collected 33,000 individual firework items and 5,000 items came from the City of Pacific.

The Port of Seattle Bomb Squad will transport and safely dispose of the fireworks.