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Fireworks canceled in Flagstaff



By J. FERGUSON
Sun Staff Reporter
Friday, May 16, 2008

The Fourth of July fireworks show in Flagstaff is officially a thing of the past.

Instead of the nighttime pyrotechnic display the city has sponsored since 1997, city staff is now proposing to hold a laser-light show at the Pine Mountain Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park. In addition to the light show, plans also include a concert by the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra.

Deputy City Manager Jim Wine characterized the decision to move to laser light shows as a mutual agreement between the city and its partner in the annual fireworks show, the Continental Country Club.

"They really were great partners," Wine said of the decade-long relationship.

But with extreme fire danger forcing the 11th-hour cancellation of Fourth of July fireworks shows the last two years, club officials had become skeptical whether the event would be held at all this year.

A city staff report also mentions nearby homeowners have growing concerns that stray fireworks could ignite a catastrophic fire in the area, taking out hundreds of nearby homes.

Last year, a Fourth of July fireworks event in Williams led to a half-acre fire on the extremely dry Kaibab National Forest.

The Williams city manager was slapped with a federal subpoena following the incident, but no charges were ever filed.

So without a venue and the likelihood of another cancellation due to the dry spring in northern Arizona, city officials have opted to spend roughly $25,000 to put on a laser light show.

That amount had been budgeted for a fireworks show, up from the $15,000 the city had set aside a year ago.

The city council is expected to decide Tuesday whether to go forward on the laser light show.

J. Ferguson can be reached at 556-2253 or jferguson@azdailysun.com.
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Todd wrote on May 17, 2008 7:31 AM:

" Wise decision. "

Midwest wrote on May 16, 2008 11:08 PM:

" As much as I would like to make the state less of a fire hazard and keep our taxes low, I think lasers is not the best choice for a subsitute for fireworks. It just ruins it, I'm from back east and not only that but I have a seizure disorder, I'll just watch it on the tube and then run outside and scream. Not like I used to, but at least I get to see "fireworks". Or just go to Tempe. "

flag.iz.home wrote on May 16, 2008 7:12 PM:

" we actually go to Winslow. They always put on a great show. "

JK wrote on May 16, 2008 5:53 PM:

" A laser show is hardly worth driving out there for. :( Oh well, there is always TV. :P "

puro wrote on May 16, 2008 4:49 PM:

" Winslow's fireworks spanked anything Flag ever had anyway. Sad but true. "

Springfield Armory wrote on May 16, 2008 4:17 PM:

" Why not just have fireworks in the middle of the cinderlake? I do it all the time. "

Jason wrote on May 16, 2008 1:28 PM:

" Those "lights in the sky" are to remind us of our real battles for independence...it's not some wasteful meaningless display. I'm saddened to hear that they're canceled, but I completely agree with the danger. From the article, it looks like it's going to be a permanent decision, but I'm really not sure (thanks for the clarity, J. Ferguson...) The laser show seems like a creative replacement, and the symphony is always wonderful. Unfortunately, I'm probably still going to elect to see Prescott's annual show (which was always better than the Flag show, anyway!) "

Obvious John wrote on May 16, 2008 12:27 PM:

" I bet the money could be better spent filling the pot holes that you will drive into while getting to the east side of town to watch the display.

.....or just have the Flagstaff fireworks in Williams. They seem to get away with everything there!! "

j wrote on May 16, 2008 11:06 AM:

" Let's use the already budgeted money to fill the empty larders of the food banks. "

Pines wrote on May 16, 2008 10:46 AM:

" Its always been a waste of money to have firework shows. Send all the schoolkids on a field trip somewhere fun and exciting. Don't waste it on lights in the sky! "

Gramz wrote on May 16, 2008 10:18 AM:

" Spend the money on something all city residents will enjoy. Seems like a waste of money to watch some lights in the sky. "

FORMER FLAG wrote on May 16, 2008 10:10 AM:

" Fireworks were always pathetic in Flag. It is nice to see the City providing an alternative that is safe and sound, rather than try to continue with a poor display. "

firework is a tradition wrote on May 16, 2008 10:07 AM:

" I think the fire work show could just be done on the outside of town. Like off I-40 toward Winslow, somewhere there is more flat land. Maybe take it toward Luepp Rd. "

TV wrote on May 16, 2008 8:45 AM:

" This may not be the most popular of decisions but it was the right thing to do. The fire danger is just too high around the 4th consistently. It would be interesting to see if they could have a fire works show for Labor day weekend instead after the monsoons have reduced the danger. "

Joe wrote on May 16, 2008 8:41 AM:

" Go to Lymon Lake! "


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