Seaside police reported a “relatively uneventful” July Fourth compared to years past when fireworks drew thousands to the beach.

Seaside canceled its fireworks show earlier this year because of the pandemic.

The beach was active with lots of people and with that came many illegal fireworks, Police Chief Dave Ham said.

“Additionally, there were illegal fireworks being displayed throughout the city,” Ham said. “Officers confiscated illegal fireworks when they came upon them.”

Police received 52 calls for service, including 19 fireworks complaints and three theft reports.

Traffic congestion at the end of the night was light, presumably due to no sanctioned fireworks show, which would have tied up traffic after the show.

Seaside Fire and Rescue responded to 21 calls Sunday night, Fire Chief Joey Daniels said. There were two fireworks injuries and 10 fires.

“One deck on fire that was on the second story of a hotel that our firefighter extinguished quickly could have been really bad,” Daniels said.

In addition, the fire department reported four beach grass fires, five emergency calls, two lost people, one motor vehicle accident and worked with police to confiscate several fireworks.

In Gearhart, it was just a “normal Fourth,” Gearhart Police Chief Jeff Bowman said, and a little quieter on Gearhart Beach.

On Saturday, two teens took a golf cart valued at $7,800 from the Gearhart Links. The teens drove it on the beach, up Del Rey ramp and into the Highlands, Bowman said.

The cart was recovered Monday after being found parked in the dune trees off the 400 block of North Ocean. It sustained some minor damage but still runs, Bowman said.

Two people were transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital for treatment Sunday at 4 p.m. after a three-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 101 near Beerman Creek Lane. Oregon State Police reported the investigation showed traffic was moving very slowly when a driver came from behind and rear-ended another. That vehicle then went forward and rear-ended another.

‘One deck on fire that was on the second story of a hotel that our firefighter extinguished quickly that could have been really bad.’

Fire Chief Joey Daniels