With the drought and all the dry grass around Gilroy High, is there still planned the 4th of July firework show?
Red Phone:
Good caller, Red Phone thanks you for pointing out a very “hot” topic that all Gilroy-ians, as well as all Californians are concerned about, that is, the use of fireworks in drought stricken California! Let Red Phone ease your mind by what Red Phone has learned from Gilroy Fire Marshall, Jackie Bretschneider.
According to Bretschneider, “People tend to draw conclusions about the drought and fireworks. We have dry grass every summer as you know, and we still have public fireworks displays every year. And we still have water to fight fires, if it happens.” As far as Bretschneider knows, there has not been a 4th of July public fireworks display cancelled this year in Santa Clara County with the exception of Cupertino.” From the Cupertino City website Red Phone has learned that due to the drought, Fremont Union High School District was not willing to spray over 100,000 gallons of water on the sports field for fire prevention.
So, how do we keep safe with the public firework display on the 4th of July at Gilroy High School? According to Bretschneider, “The vendor has complied with the State Fire Marshal Regulations for pyrotechnic display, and has been issued a permit by the Fire Marshal.” The permit states the size of the mortar, which launches the fireworks into the air, establishes the size of the fallout zone, and requires a State Licensed Pyrotechnic Operator.
Bretshneider encourages people to attend public fireworks displays rather than using fireworks on their own. However, people do want to use fireworks. In the County of Santa Clara, Gilroy is the only city that permits the sale and use of “safe and sane” fireworks from July 1st to the 4th midnight within city limits. By definition, safe and sane fireworks do not leave the ground or explode. They can only be bought at one of sixteen non-profit fireworks booths located throughout the City of Gilroy; visit gilroydispatch.com and search for the article “Get your fireworks here!” for their locations. For information about the legal and illegal use of fireworks, visit the Gilroy City website at cityofgilroy.org and go to Fire, Fire Prevention.
So good caller, the answer is yes, Gilroy will have its 4th of July fireworks, and it will be safe!
