The community fireworks display for Rock Springs will be held in a new location this year.
The Rock Springs City Council has approved moving the show to the property behind Western Wyoming Community College. The event has been held at the Sweetwater Events Complex in past years.
The show will take place at about 10 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2016.
With the show taking place within city limits, the Rock Springs Police Department and the Rock Springs Fire Department are working together to make sure everyone has a safe and fun holiday.
The Rock Springs Fire and Police Departments are advising the public that the Gateway Boulevard extension will be closed to vehicle traffic on the evening of July 4th from 7 p.m. until after the fireworks display is finished to accommodate emergency vehicle traffic and emergency response.
The closure will include the Gateway Boulevard extension from the entrance to My Place Hotel at the 800 block to the West parking lot into WWCC on the 1400 block of Gateway Boulevard. In addition, all of the WWCC facilities will be closed all of July 4.
“The firework show location is visible from nearly everywhere in Rock Springs and we are encouraging residents to enjoy the firework display from the comfort of their own homes”, Chief Pacheco said.
The City of Rock Springs will be following the International Fire Code during the Firework Display which states that fireworks travel 70 feet per inch of shell, and the largest shell during the show will be 6 inches. The farthest distance a shell will travel is 420 feet from the launch site, which is located in excess of 420 feet from any building in that area.
Furthermore, Pacheco and Wamsley remind citizens that fireworks are illegal in Rock Springs and those discharging illegal fireworks within city limits will be cited for violating this ordinance and their fireworks will be confiscated and destroyed.
Additionally, Chief Wamsley reminds citizens, “When using legal fireworks such as sparklers to do so safely, as these can burn in excess of 1200 degrees”.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), sparklers account for 25 percent of all emergency room firework injuries. Injuries can be prevented if proper safety guidelines are followed.
If you have questions regarding firework safety, please contact the Rock Springs Fire Department.