The worst of the heat wave appears to have passed, but what’s left of it is taking much of the sizzle out of Fourth of July celebrations. Fire officials are discouraging people from discharging their own fireworks and now, even professional shows have been cancelled.
For years, people have congregated at Spokane’s Riverfront Park to watch the fireworks on the Fourth. Covid wiped out that tradition last year. This year, heat and dry conditions have wiped out the alternative.
That alternative was four regional public drive-in fireworks shows, at Plantes Ferry Park, Avista Stadium, Ferris High School and the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex.
“When you look at locations like Plantes Ferry Park and Dwight Merkel Sports Complex, they’re right up against native timber," said Spokane Parks Director Garrett Jones. "A lot of it has to do with the location and just the weather conditions, but we’re going to start the planning next week just to talk through what’s next, what can we do. I think all of us in our community are still waiting for what that normal is. We’re getting there though. We’re getting close," he said.
Fire officials hope the cancellation of the public displays won’t be an incentive to people to stage their own fireworks shows. This week the Inland Empire Fire Chiefs Association released a statement discouraging that. It recommends people leave fireworks to the professionals. In most of Spokane County, private fireworks shows are illegal.