86 fireworks-related injuries at Harborview mark a 65% jump from last year’s Fourth of July
Jul 6, 2026, 7:00 AM | Updated: 11:58 am
A fireworks show in downtown Bellevue. (Photo courtesy of the City of Bellevue)
(Photo courtesy of the City of Bellevue)
Eighty-six people suffered fireworks-related injuries during the Fourth of July weekend, a 65% increase from 2025, Harborview Medical Center confirmed.
According to the hospital, which revealed this data at 11 a.m. Monday, 32 injuries involved hands and 15 injuries involved eyes. Twenty-six reported injuries at Harborview Medical Center involved multiple body areas.
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Harborview expects more patients as transfers come in from other facilities
Tim Fredrickson, the associate chief nursing officer for Harborview Medical Center, said he expects these numbers to continue to grow over the next two days as people seek care and patients are transferred from other hospitals.
In regard to the substantial year-over-year increase, Fredrickson found the data to be “troubling.”
“This is a troubling increase,” Fredrickson said. “More importantly, these are all individuals whose holiday ended in the emergency department instead of with family and friends. Many of the injuries are severe, including burns, hand and eye trauma that may carry lifelong consequences. Most were preventable.”
The number of injuries already documented by Harborview Medical Center has surpassed the number of injuries reported in 2025, as 52 people were treated for injuries stemming from Fourth of July fireworks.
This is a developing story, check back for updates
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