No fireworks this year.

[mlbrowninwa]

Here in Vancouver,WA there is a fireworks show that is said to be one of if not the largest show west of the Mississippi. This year the show will not go on. It has been canceled. Sign of the times i guess. I have heard that the show had been in trouble for a couple years, but i guess the current economic problems finished it off. Talking with a firefighter i know, the local fire departments are thinking they may be busy over the weekend due to people setting off their own shows as they will not be in the park watching the show.

[pam]

The tents are up here selling personal fireworks. Though the areas are getting smaller and smaller that will allow people to set them off. Fire is always a big concern especially now that it's getting hot. Personally I think there will come a time when they are pretty much banned all over.

[mlbrowninwa]

Yeah, we have the tents set up all over as well. They are only legal to set off here during the week of the holiday. Not allowed after July 5th.

[pam]

If I remember correctly, our laws are 3 days before and 3 days after the 4th. Of course they sell them for the 24th as well. Pioneer Day.

[deseretgov]

Soon they will be selling LED and fiber optic "fireworks." Reusable and eco friendly! No fire hazard.

[Mahone]

Soon they will be selling LED and fiber optic "fireworks." Reusable and eco friendly! No fire hazard.

Providing the device has been PAT tested. It is still unsafe otherwise

EDIT: seems PAT testing is a UK requirement only, so those across the pond might not know what I mean, so here is the link: PAT Testing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edited June 30, 2009 by Mahone

[Dravin]

Sounds similar to UL (Underwriters Laboratories - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) testing.

[Mahone]

Sounds similar to UL (Underwriters Laboratories - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) testing.

That looks like a testing which is done on a sample of the product before it reaches the public. PAT testing is usually performed on a regular basis on all electrical devices after it has been purchased by the customer (this only applies to buildings to which the public have access - so not your own house). Large companies will employ their own qualified PAT tester, as they have so much equipment it becomes a full time job wheras smaller companies and organisations will get a third party company to come in once a year or so, just to check all the equipment is still safe to use.

[ADoyle90815]

Fireworks are illegal in my city, but it's hard to enforce since there are neighboring cities that allow them to be purchased. There are plenty of local firework shows run by professionals to chose from on the 4th. In cities where it's legal to sell fireworks, the sales start 2-3 days before the 4th, and the booths are torn down on the 5th and not seen again until the last week of June the following year.

Edited June 30, 2009 by ADoyle90815

[Guest TheLutheran]

The City of Vancouver's website laid it out like this:

4th of July Fireworks Show Cancelled

No 4th of July fireworks at Fort Vancouver in 2009

The 4th of July fireworks show and entertainment events at Fort Vancouver National Site have been cancelled for this year. The cost of producing this long-time community tradition has grown to nearly $500 thousand, and in the current economy the money is not available. Planning for a new event in 2010 is already under way. For more information, see Fort Vancouver National Site | Fort Vancouver, Pearson Air Museum and Officers Row

Half a million dollars is a lot to spend. Too bad they couldn't have scaled back the extravaganza to reasonably acknowledge our country's birthday. Guess its all or nothing.

Fireworks have long been banned in our desert area but I fondly remember writing my name in the air with sparklers as a kid. How could I forget . . . the image was burned onto my eyeballs!!

Raise your hand if you'll be flying Old Glory above your house this year on the 4th of July.

[Jbs2763]

i can go get the "good stuff" at wal mart here... alot of gas stations sell good stuff...not to mention the 5 dealers in my town of 15,000...all selling the fun kind...(that go way up in the air and make pretty lights)

anotehr great reason to live in the Hoosier state!

[Misshalfway]

No fireworks this year.

Oh. I thought you were talking about my premenopausal sex drive. ( grumble grumble)

[Heavenguard]

Dur, couldn't they just downscale the show?

No fireworks in my city because we have a city worker's strike going on right now. The nerve of unions making demands in a time like this and taking the city hostage.

[mlbrowninwa]

You would think they could have scaled it back a bit. But it was a heck of a show last year. You can watch it on YouTube.

[talisyn]

Sparklers and flag at the ready!

[Wingnut]

It just isn't Independence Day without the show at Fort Vancouver!! I'm so sad. I live quite a bit farther east now, but I used to live in Oregon City, and I went to Fort Vancouver a few times for the 4th. That's a bummer.

For those who are wondering "why don't they just scale it back?" it's not quite that simple. It's not just a fireworks show. It's an all-day event with vendors and concerts and all sorts of stuff. People get there before noon and camp out all day. One hundred thousand people, easily. It's not just the fireworks.