Based on a report from usatoday.com, the drought condition in the Burbank, California area has changed plans for the fourth of July. Due to the dry conditions, traditional fireworks will not be set off. Instead, a laser light show celebration will happen on the fourth of July this year.
This is quite a significant event happening, since this is the first time the regular fireworks show has been canceled since 1994. Ticket sales have also changed for the show this year. Sales for the laser show are slow. People are not thrilled with the idea of no fireworks, and just a laser show.
This is all about safety for the public. Fireworks can easily start a fire, especially during the time of a drought. Based on the usatoday.com report, the Burbank Fire Chief Tracy Pansini said “ From a fire standpoint and a safety standpoint, it was an easy call.”
Other locations around the country are also cracking down on fireworks. In Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, there is a ban on fireworks there. This is the first ban of fireworks in the forest since 1999. The fine imposed on someone who simply has fireworks in the forest, or who is caught firing them off, is $75.
Just this year alone, there have been 70 fires inside of the forest. Fireworks easily go into dry leaves and start fires. A forest fire could possibly get out of control and be very dangerous. This is why the ban has been put into place.
According to a 11alive.com report, there are also fireworks and drought concerns in Alabama. Officials in the area say people should leave the fireworks to the experts, and not set any off at home. They also showed people how a sparkler can easily start a fire.
Georgia Fire Commissioner John Oxendine, based on the 11alive.com report, said "We're very concerned about the use of fireworks and the key is that they're done properly. You saw a lot of these sparks coming up, shooting everywhere, and those are legal fireworks. If that had been done on grass or pine straw or next to a pine tree...that could have become another Waycross, a very, very serious fire."
It was also reported in Georgia that Woodstock and Cartersville canceled their fireworks shows this year. The drought could start a fire in the areas there, so they canceled the shows. Residents in the area should be extra careful this year, if they decide to set off fireworks.
