While the Hays City Commission voted Thursday to prohibit fireworks in 2014, the community is expected to have at least one fireworks display.
Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno said the Wild West Festival fireworks spectacular, scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. July 4, will proceed as planned — primarily because festival organizer and the city will have a contingent on hand to prevent emergencies.
“The city departments including fire works with the group to plan, prepare and stage the professional display safely in one location, thus eliminating many potential hazards,” Brisen said Friday morning. “The fire department calls in employees and staffs trucks at the location.”
The controlled nature of the display in a “controlled environment” is much different than having fireworks shot all across the community by residents, he noted.
“We do not have the staff/resources to guard against issues the dry conditions have created throughout the entire community like we do with a single professionally held event,” Briseno said, “and therefore the commission has voted to eliminate the sale or use of fireworks this year.”