When it comes to keeping fireworks problems at bay, the City of Auburn has made great strides, according to statistics recently compiled by Auburn Police Chief Jim Kelly.

Among the key findings in Kelly’s “2009 Fireworks After Action” report to Mayor Pete Lewis:

• The total number of fireworks related 911 calls for service from 11 a.m. July 4 to 3 a.m. July 4 decreased from 133 to 99 between 2008 and 2009.

• The total number of fireworks-related calls for service for the 2009 season — May 26 to July 6 — decreased by .9 percent, from 309 in 2008 to 306 in 2009. The number of calls for service began in 2003 at 537 and has fallen steadily every year since.

• Total fireworks arrests from May 26 to July 26 decreased from 28 to eight between 2008 and 2009.

• In 2009 fireworks arrests decreased from 28 in 2008 to eight, a 71-percent decline.

• Police confiscated 66,000 fireworks pieces in 2009, 100 percent more than the 33,000 they confiscated in 2008.

The City’s recent efforts to reduce fireworks-related problems began in 2003 and took off in 2004 when police declared, “If it goes up or blows up, it’s illegal in the city of Auburn.”

“Each year the results have gotten better and better,” said Auburn Assistant Police Chief Larry Miller. “We knew that it was going to take time to change attitudes in the city and bring some understanding to what our intent was.”

One thing the Police Department did differently in 2009 than it had done in years past was to begin its fireworks emphasis patrols on June 15 instead of the Memorial Day weekend. This year the department used one officer each night up to July 3, when it increased to 10 officers and. On July 4, it had 40 officers assigned to emphasis patrols.

Kelly said his department took this step because fireworks-related calls between May 26 and June 14 in 2008 were extremely low.

On July 4, 11 officers were assigned on or near the Muckleshoot fireworks stands and discharge area.

“We saw a decrease in the amount of citizens discharging fireworks this year in the discharge area,” Kelly wrote in his report, adding that each night before July 4, officers working fireworks emphasis reported fewer than 10 people each night setting off fireworks.

“Although a count of citizens discharging fireworks was never conducted, officers with experience reported a decrease in the discharge area compared to 2008. However, between (10 p.m.) and (1 a.m.) on July 4, the discharge area became very congested along with an increase in spectators and vehicle traffic,” Kelly wrote.

This year the Valley Regional Fire Authority provided three firework transport vehicles. The vehicles divided the city and provided transport duties to officers confiscating fireworks.

There were no known injuries to police officers or firefighters. Two minor injuries were reported within the tribal fireworks stands area.

This year police a representative at every Muckleshoot Fireworks Commission meeting to provide input with regard to the stands and discharge area. The commission agreed to hire more security than in previous years to move cars from the roadway to the parking lot.

In 2009, the City used the Internet to get the word out about illegal fireworks and sent flyers home with all elementary school students before school ended. It distributed flyers outlining fireworks laws, education and information to more than 61 local apartment complexes and mobile home courts to educate and warn the tenants.