The city of Ouray has canceled its Fourth of July fireworks display in light of dangerous fire conditions.
Brooke Warren, a spokeswoman for the city, said this morning Fire Chief Adam Kunz made the decision on Friday afternoon to cancel the fireworks. Kunz decided to cancel the fireworks before the Gold Mountain Fire was reported Saturday afternoon, but city officials didn’t announce the cancellation until this morning.
In an emailed statement he shared with city officials and Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry Friday afternoon, Kunz said precipitation and wind forecasts weren’t working in the city’s favor.
“Due to the extremely dry conditions currently affecting Ouray County, I have made the difficult decision to cancel the scheduled fireworks display. Public safety must remain our highest priority. The combination of low humidity, dry vegetation, and high winds for the past week and predicted for the next week creates a higher risk that fireworks could ignite a wildfire, threatening lives, property, and natural resources,” Kunz wrote in his email.”
“While we understand this decision may disappoint community members and visitors, the potential consequences of a fire starting under these conditions far outweigh the benefits of proceeding with the event. Our responsibility is to protect the community, our firefighters, and the surrounding environment.
“We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation as we work together to reduce the risk of wildfire during this period of heightened fire danger. We encourage residents to remain vigilant and follow all fire restrictions and safety guidelines currently in place.”
Other Fourth of July events are still planned in the city, including the annual Main Street parade, kids’ games at Fellin Park, water fights at Sixth Avenue and Main Street and the nighttime Jeep parade.
