2017 - Fireworks, July 3rd
2017 Fireworks Display – Date Change - July 3rd
On behalf of the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department Pyrotechnics Crew and the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce (WCOC) we would like to formally announce that the Fireworks Show will be on July 3rd moving forward.
Safety guidelines and requirements continue to get more restrictive and after serious discussion and consideration, the WVFD Pyrotechnics Crew expressed their awareness to the WCOC.
This has been a very thoughtful decision with many factors taken into consideration. This is the best possible solution for not only safety requirements, but the volunteer efforts of those donating their time to put on a spectacular show. The highly-trained volunteers are very familiar with the mandatory safety rules and have weighed out all possible options.
The volunteer hours that go into setting up a fireworks display actually begins in the month of May, organizing tubes, and loading shells. Most of the work cannot happen until the day of the “show” and cannot be done ahead of time for safety reasons. The pyrotechnics crew work the entire day of the show until it begins at around 11pm.
The fireworks display is shot from City Dock, as it allows for spectacular viewing for everyone. There are a number of parameters to work within when dealing with explosives, such as fireworks. The most critical is the distance from proximate audience. The standard for the display they shoot is 560 feet. This is the very minimum distance that people are allowed to be when the fireworks display is out and loaded. Since the pyrotechnics are working on the display throughout the day, the area (560 feet radius) is supposed to remain clear of everything besides the pyro crew.
The fireworks will begin around 11pm and blast us right into the 4th of July. We really appreciate your understanding.
There are ideas floating around about new things that can be done the evening of the 4th. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
A huge THANK YOU goes out to the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department and the Pyrotechnics Crew in everything they do for the Fireworks Display, and their continued volunteerism and support for our community!
On behalf of the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department Pyrotechnics Crew and the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce (WCOC) we would like to formally announce that the Fireworks Show will be on July 3rd moving forward.
Safety guidelines and requirements continue to get more restrictive and after serious discussion and consideration, the WVFD Pyrotechnics Crew expressed their awareness to the WCOC.
This has been a very thoughtful decision with many factors taken into consideration. This is the best possible solution for not only safety requirements, but the volunteer efforts of those donating their time to put on a spectacular show. The highly-trained volunteers are very familiar with the mandatory safety rules and have weighed out all possible options.
The volunteer hours that go into setting up a fireworks display actually begins in the month of May, organizing tubes, and loading shells. Most of the work cannot happen until the day of the “show” and cannot be done ahead of time for safety reasons. The pyrotechnics crew work the entire day of the show until it begins at around 11pm.
The fireworks display is shot from City Dock, as it allows for spectacular viewing for everyone. There are a number of parameters to work within when dealing with explosives, such as fireworks. The most critical is the distance from proximate audience. The standard for the display they shoot is 560 feet. This is the very minimum distance that people are allowed to be when the fireworks display is out and loaded. Since the pyrotechnics are working on the display throughout the day, the area (560 feet radius) is supposed to remain clear of everything besides the pyro crew.
The fireworks will begin around 11pm and blast us right into the 4th of July. We really appreciate your understanding.
There are ideas floating around about new things that can be done the evening of the 4th. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions.
A huge THANK YOU goes out to the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department and the Pyrotechnics Crew in everything they do for the Fireworks Display, and their continued volunteerism and support for our community!
*** Here are some comments and questions that were answered recently by members of the WVFD after a brief announcement was made on Facebook:
Why couldn’t the fireworks be moved, why don't they put them on a barge like they used to do? or on the old mill dock?
Jordan Buness: Shooting the fireworks from a barge adds unneeded complexity and it is a very small platform to work from, also the barge we have used in the past is no longer in town. The old mill dock has buildings within the safety zone so that option is out as well.
Is there any chance of the state would let us use the ferry dock?
Jordan Buness: Buildings within the safety zone would rule it out.
What about moving the boat races to another day?
Jordan Buness: It's not just the boat races that would have to be moved.
Other comments:
Jordan Buness: I for one am happy to see this change. For years the VOLUNTEERS involved with the fireworks have sacrificed spending the 4th with their kids and loved ones to provide the caliber of show the public has become accustomed to. Set-up takes around 12 hours, with the change to the 3rd it will enable more of our volunteers to help set-up and make the overall job easier. There were numerous concerns and changes that prompted this change. If anyone wants to discuss this further I am more than happy to discuss it.
Tim Buness: Let's look at couple of issues that we need to address. Firstly, NFPA requires certain footages from the fireworks to the general public, which means we have to have city dock closed to the public as soon as we start loading live shells! Secondly, we have 10 to 15 people that start right after the parade is done and work until the fireworks are shot. We have members that have not seen the rest of the 4th ever!
Clay Hammer: There is nobody more familiar with the needs and space availability than the people who have been hands on doing it for the past 30 plus years. They know the options for where and how. They have used mill dock, city dock, Kaers place, barge. They have done it all the ways it can be done and rules continue to get more restrictive. Trust me, they already are very familiar with problems and the options and you are going to enjoy the results of the best solution.
What I like about this is we still get to have fireworks basically on the 4th, PLUS we get to have log rolling still, PLUS we get to have the boat races again. It's a win-win situation! Not only that the folks that have been giving up THEIR 4th so you can enjoy your fireworks....they get to enjoy it too! Unless you are involved in it you have no idea the amount of discussion that went into this so that it could all still happen. Starting with a bang instead of ending with a bang, it's all good!!
Penny Allen: I have read through all the comments and understand that first, people are looking for answers, and second, it's change (change always seems to be difficult - human nature). I also read suggestions for solutions, all of which have been thought of and discussed by a number of people from the Fire Department, Chamber, and other volunteers (This wasn't a decision made by one or a few people, and all these people have been organizing and working the 4th for years - (seasoned vets!). Other options were also taken into consideration. When it was all weighed out, this was the best answer for all organizations involved - the ones who are volunteering their time over the 4th to make this a great celebration for Wrangell. I'm willing to try this change for a year, see if it works for everyone, especially the volunteers, and remember we aren't losing a single thing. In fact, we are adding the boat races back in. That's exciting.
People get upset when there is change, especially when it comes to the 4th; we're very proud of our 4th. But when I am watching the fireworks this year, I am going to be thankful that all those volunteers who are giving us a show get to spend the fourth tossing eggs with their daughters, watching their toddlers wobble across the grass for a handful of candy, win their wife a teddy bear, and enjoy homemade root beer and catholic burgers with their family who is visiting from out of town. I am willing to make this small change in order for those families to get to spend that quality time together.
Why couldn’t the fireworks be moved, why don't they put them on a barge like they used to do? or on the old mill dock?
Jordan Buness: Shooting the fireworks from a barge adds unneeded complexity and it is a very small platform to work from, also the barge we have used in the past is no longer in town. The old mill dock has buildings within the safety zone so that option is out as well.
Is there any chance of the state would let us use the ferry dock?
Jordan Buness: Buildings within the safety zone would rule it out.
What about moving the boat races to another day?
Jordan Buness: It's not just the boat races that would have to be moved.
Other comments:
Jordan Buness: I for one am happy to see this change. For years the VOLUNTEERS involved with the fireworks have sacrificed spending the 4th with their kids and loved ones to provide the caliber of show the public has become accustomed to. Set-up takes around 12 hours, with the change to the 3rd it will enable more of our volunteers to help set-up and make the overall job easier. There were numerous concerns and changes that prompted this change. If anyone wants to discuss this further I am more than happy to discuss it.
Tim Buness: Let's look at couple of issues that we need to address. Firstly, NFPA requires certain footages from the fireworks to the general public, which means we have to have city dock closed to the public as soon as we start loading live shells! Secondly, we have 10 to 15 people that start right after the parade is done and work until the fireworks are shot. We have members that have not seen the rest of the 4th ever!
Clay Hammer: There is nobody more familiar with the needs and space availability than the people who have been hands on doing it for the past 30 plus years. They know the options for where and how. They have used mill dock, city dock, Kaers place, barge. They have done it all the ways it can be done and rules continue to get more restrictive. Trust me, they already are very familiar with problems and the options and you are going to enjoy the results of the best solution.
What I like about this is we still get to have fireworks basically on the 4th, PLUS we get to have log rolling still, PLUS we get to have the boat races again. It's a win-win situation! Not only that the folks that have been giving up THEIR 4th so you can enjoy your fireworks....they get to enjoy it too! Unless you are involved in it you have no idea the amount of discussion that went into this so that it could all still happen. Starting with a bang instead of ending with a bang, it's all good!!
Penny Allen: I have read through all the comments and understand that first, people are looking for answers, and second, it's change (change always seems to be difficult - human nature). I also read suggestions for solutions, all of which have been thought of and discussed by a number of people from the Fire Department, Chamber, and other volunteers (This wasn't a decision made by one or a few people, and all these people have been organizing and working the 4th for years - (seasoned vets!). Other options were also taken into consideration. When it was all weighed out, this was the best answer for all organizations involved - the ones who are volunteering their time over the 4th to make this a great celebration for Wrangell. I'm willing to try this change for a year, see if it works for everyone, especially the volunteers, and remember we aren't losing a single thing. In fact, we are adding the boat races back in. That's exciting.
People get upset when there is change, especially when it comes to the 4th; we're very proud of our 4th. But when I am watching the fireworks this year, I am going to be thankful that all those volunteers who are giving us a show get to spend the fourth tossing eggs with their daughters, watching their toddlers wobble across the grass for a handful of candy, win their wife a teddy bear, and enjoy homemade root beer and catholic burgers with their family who is visiting from out of town. I am willing to make this small change in order for those families to get to spend that quality time together.