This Fourth of July sees a pivot in how some U.S. cities are commemorating Independence Day. Traditional fireworks are being replaced with innovative drone light shows in several locations across the country over the rising concerns about fire threats and environmental implications.
In a move reflecting safety, Salt Lake City, Utah ushered in a unique method of celebrating this patriotic day with its inaugural drone light show.
Emphasizing the new format’s role in reducing the region’s “high fire danger” and mitigating the air quality issues exacerbated by fireworks, Mayor Erin Mendenhall stressed, “As temperatures rise and fire danger increases, we must be conscientious of both our air quality and the potential for wildfires.”
Fire safety is no minor concern in Utah, a state known for its susceptibility to wildfires with an annual average of 800 to 1,000 incidents, as reported by the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Further east in Colorado, another state in its wildfire season, the City of Boulder announced its decision to opt for a drone display in lieu of fireworks this year.
Boulder’s celebrations have been an annual tradition since 1941. However, the city council explained on Facebook that “The shift from traditional fireworks to drones was not an easy decision and based on a number of factors, including increased fire danger fueled by climate change.”
Dan Kingdom, owner of WK Real Estate in Boulder, elaborated that the committee planning the city’s Fourth of July festivities factored in environmental considerations and the challenges of procuring fireworks.
The recent memory of the Marshall Fire in their community, Kingdom explained, prompted serious discussion.
“Ultimately, the decision became pretty clear for us because the company that we’ve long gotten purchased the fireworks from had gone out of business during the pandemic, and we were not able to find fireworks for the show, so it made our decision pretty straightforward and pretty easy to go with the drones,” Kingdom said.
In California, locations such as Lake Tahoe, La Jolla, and Ocean Beach are also choosing to celebrate Independence Day with these innovative, environmentally-friendly drone displays.
Jeff Stein, owner of Drone Studios, a California-based company managing the La Jolla drone show, indicated that both La Jolla and Ocean Beach are embracing this alternative mode of celebration.
Stein pointed out that drone shows are not only quieter but also reusable, avoiding the smoke, debris, and noise associated with traditional fireworks, which can stress out pets and individuals with PTSD. He added, “There’s a lot of military in San Diego.”
In place of explosive pyrotechnics, expect to see an exciting fusion of technology and art as drone shows light up the night sky. Stein explained that the drones’ pixels will simulate fireworks and present a narrative through motion graphics. “You can’t do that with fireworks,” he remarked.
While the trending shift from traditional fireworks to tech-based laser shows may be safer in wildfire zones and help with noise for PTSD and pets there is a lot to be said for the boom and lights of fireworks. It remains to be seen if Americans will embrace July 4th drone shows.
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