The Fourth of July may look a little different in Canon City this year.
City council voted to postpone their fireworks show because of fire restrictions last night.
They’re treating this with extra sensitivity because of the Royal Gorge Fire.
Dry brush, gusty winds and a lack of good moisture.
"I’ve been looking forward to this for over a year," Ashley Smith, a Canon City Council member said.
Canon City Council forced to push their fireworks show back for the second year in a row now.
"Usually our fireworks show is completely paid for by private donations and this year we had decided to match those funds and have probably one of the best shows Canon City has ever had and now we can’t have it," Smith said.
The city already had $16,000 set aside for the single show. Now, they’re considering pushing it back to Labor Day weekend or New Year’s Eve depending on conditions.
"You hate to not see the fireworks on the Fourth of July but for the overall safety of the community, everybody involved in the community, it’s a smart choice," David DelVecchio, Fire Chief of the Canon City Fire Protection District said.
"Some of the fireworks don’t always go out by the time they hit the ground and then when the sparks hit the hillside, sometimes the brush will catch on fire," Jim Jones, a Canon City resident said.
Not disappointing to Jim Jones who lives on the other side of Skyline Drive where the fireworks are launched.
"If there’s a danger, they should try to air on the side of safety," he said.
Chief DelVecchio tells News5 his area is under a Stage 2 fire ban which restricts all open fires expect for gas grills.
"Problem is people don’t extinguish those fires adequately, the winds pick up and they end up spreading the hot embers around and catching vegetation on fire," DelVecchio said.
But they weren’t the only ones forced to cancel. Also under Stage 2 restrictions, Palmer Lake canceled their famous fireworks show last Thursday as well because of high fire danger.
"We’re in a moderate drought condition right now in southern Colorado and it’s expected to get worse as the season progresses, it’s not going to get better," he said.
If you’re looking for alternative shows to go to, for a full list of Fourth of July events happening across southern Colorado, click here.
