By JOHN E. WEARE
KAB
Overlooked feta crumbles, the only evidence of a gyro on the plate, I listened to my wife read a news brief as I poured blue cheese dressing over a side salad. The Alliance City Council had voted that evening to ban fireworks I heard her say above the background noise of a Pinedale, Wyo., restaurant. Though we buy a bag’s worth to celebrate Independence Day every summer the decision is prudent given ongoing fires and continued dry conditions.
Before some mid-meal scrolling while eating out that evening, we had considered the most direct route home. East then south through Casper then U.S. Highway 20 entering Nebraska would have been faster by nearly half an hour. Instead, we decided to avoid the smoke and uncertainty of the South Fork Fire near Crawford and traveled south the next day to Rock Springs then Interstate 80 jumping off at Kimball. As I write on the morning of Juneteenth the fire has burned almost 40,000 acres and is 80 percent contained as evacuations are lifted and fire crews begin heading home, according to an article by Matt Chibe, reporting for KOTA Territory News.
Seeing the first images a couple weeks before of Smiley Canyon engulfed in flames kindled memories of planting Ponderosa pines along the slopes with Boy Scouts. How many that survived after 25 years of replanting following the 48,000 acre 1989 wildfire are living now? Nebraska’s largest state park, which also saw a large fire in the adjoining Soldier Creek Wilderness Area in 2007, will again require help to rise from the ashes.
Rain forecast this weekend could help extinguish the South Fork Fire though it is anybody’s guess when the next wildfire will erupt in Western Nebraska. A fireworks ban in Alliance and Hemingford is a proactive way to significantly lower the probability of at least one common summer ignition source. Our Keep Alliance Beautiful litter crew combed a field within city limits this spring with debris from past Fourth of July celebrations (traditionally KAB has promoted fireworks cleanups, keeping track of volunteers and their hours spent). A fire there this year could easily spread to homes bordering the east and north sides of the tract. Fields and tree rows along our community’s rural interface are all more susceptible to wildfires during the ongoing drought.
The bans in our county, as expected, are more unpopular with certain people. One commenter online said he would be shooting fireworks off anyway as he asked in advance that nobody report him. The Alliance Police Department stated this week that they will be enforcing the decision and that residents who ignore it could see hefty fines.
My advice is to look at the options as the Fourth of July nears. There could still be a public fireworks display if organizers determine conditions are safe enough. Trained firefighters working with the right equipment are capable of delivering a great show for the public even if personal fireworks are not allowed. If the City also cancels the festivities at Laing Lake I would suggest driving to Scottsbluff or another community that allows fireworks and/or a large public show. Just take safety precautions as a visitor as you would at home.
Let’s make America’s 250th birthday a bash to remember, even if it means a little creativity without the flash and boom.