With wildfires raging across the western United States, cities and states are limiting fireworks displays as the country prepares for one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in decades.
Utah recently banned personal fireworks, citing the extreme danger of wildfires. This week, the governors of Colorado and New Mexico called for restraint, while cities and counties from the Southwest to Oregon and Washington imposed their own restrictions.
The idea is simple: Families should attend professional shows rather than set off fireworks in their own backyard.
July 4 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country. In the United States, expect a particularly large version of the usual holiday color combination of red, white and blue. From Mount Rushmore to Washington, D.C., and thousands of communities in between, exciting spectacles continue to be planned.
Record dry conditions increase risk this year
Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across the western United States in the past week alone, adding to already above-average levels of acreage burned this year. Dry and windy weather contributes to fires.
While the Southwest has been hit particularly hard by an unusually dry winter and low snowpack, other parts of the United States, including much of the East Coast and parts of the South, are experiencing varying degrees of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Almost 85% of forest fires are caused by people, either intentionally or accidentally, such as when power lines go down or fires are left unattended. Lightning is a common natural cause, but it can also cause less frequent responsible fires, such as from animals chewing on exposed wires.
Factors that contribute to a wildfire include flammable vegetation, weather conditions and the source of ignition. Fireworks serve as a source of ignition, which is why fires increase every year on the Fourth of July, said Philip Higuera, a professor of fire ecology at the University of Montana.
“It’s not because the Fourth of July is always particularly hot, dry and windy,” he said. “That’s because on that one day there are a lot of ignition sources in the area.”
Authorities encourage alternative celebrations
Only Utah imposed statewide restrictions after Gov. Spencer Cox declared an emergency due to the risk of wildfires. In other states, decisions are made at the local level.
While some cities and counties still plan to hold fireworks shows, others have canceled them, including Colorado Springs, Colorado’s second-largest city. Wednesday’s decision comes as a fire in the Rocky Mountain foothills, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the city, spread across 55 square miles (142 square kilometers), destroying more than 100 structures.
Burn bans are in effect in some Florida counties.
Restrictions on fireworks are nothing new, but in some regions this is the first time such a decision has been made.
Frank Wirth, the fire chief in Alamosa, Colorado, made the difficult decision to cancel his city’s fireworks display because of the expected dry weather. The town of nearly 10,000 people is surrounded by bush and grassland, and the annual fireworks show is usually attended by several hundred people.
“I think they’re disappointed, and so am I,” Wirth said, but “fireworks cause fires, there’s no doubt about that.”
There are safe ways to enjoy your holiday
The fireworks industry generated $2.3 billion in revenue last year, and that figure could rise to $3 billion this year due to America’s 250th birthday, according to Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association.
Heckman urged people to buy from a trusted and licensed retailer, whether a large retail store or a nonprofit, and follow the instructions to avoid injury.
After setting off fireworks, keep a bucket of water on hand to soak used fireworks before throwing them away, he said. The absence of a flame does not mean that combustion does not continue.
Experts also advised paying attention to local authorities and taking into account current restrictions.
“Conditions dictate tactics,” said Joe Ten Eyck, a vegetation fire expert for the International Association of Fire Fighters. “And that may take away the excitement of the celebration for some people, and they may have to celebrate it differently.”
Burning a forest, intentionally or accidentally, is a punishable offense throughout the country, although consequences vary by jurisdiction.
But the safest option is to skip the personal fireworks display and opt for a professional show where fire crews are usually on standby. Some shows now use drone shows instead of flammable pyrotechnics, further reducing the risk of fire.
This story was translated from English using a generative artificial intelligence tool. A Telemundo 51 editor reviewed the translation.