Fire chief urges committee to build alternatives to private fireworks; safety, funding and culture change discussed

District fire leadership told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee the community faces recurring wildfire and injury risks tied to private fireworks and encouraged the committee to help develop safer alternatives.

Fire Chief Nick (fire chief) described repeated wildfire incidents related to fireworks in recent years and said the department can allow and support safer, centralized demonstrations but cannot shoulder the private costs of large displays. He asked the committee to act as a liaison between the district, businesses and nonprofit partners to create festival-style alternatives, explore certification of pyrotechnicians and pursue grant or private funding for safer options.

Committee members discussed several alternatives Nick raised: organized pyrotechnic displays under certified technicians, drone-based shows (which officials dismissed as inappropriate for local fog conditions and cost), and festival programming including concerts and vendor events intended to provide a controlled celebration. Chief Nick said prior efforts to prohibit fireworks outright had failed, producing unsafe dispersal of fireworks into neighborhoods; he framed the committee’s role as developing realistic, funded alternatives that could eventually reduce risky private displays.

Nick also noted facility constraints the district is managing: the community center lacks certain alarm and ADA alarm systems needed for full public-safety integration. Committee members agreed that coordination with the fire department and private sector partners will be necessary, and the July 4 subcommittee will continue liaison work on fundraising, vendor outreach and possible event formats.