July Fourth fireworks: Front Range authorities, veterans ask revelers to leave it to the pros ...Saudi Arabia

When Independence Day comes around each summer, this extravagant holiday is largely celebrated across the nation with red, white and blue decor, sparklers, hot dogs and hamburgers, outdoor family fun and, of course, fireworks.

Despite the patriotic intentions of marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, unexpected booms of fireworks around the Fourth of July make the holiday “the worst time of year” for some Front Range combat veterans.

U.S. Army veteran Lee Cooper, Larimer County’s veterans service officer, said he’s had panic attacks triggered by fireworks, and he’s aware that his experience is shared by other veterans.

“Those large fireworks, when they surprise me, sound a lot like a mortar going off, and it triggers a physical and physiological response,” Cooper said. “I tend not to have problems with the public displays when I know it’s coming, but the fireworks in the neighborhood that will wake me out of a deep sleep can be very distressing.”

Many local authorities — and veterans — are advocating that firework displays be managed by professionals at authorized and regulated events, and out of backyards.

Cooper said he knows veterans who will plan to leave their neighborhoods around the holiday to avoid the unsanctioned and unexpected fireworks that boom as many Coloradans circumvent the law.

“This is the hardest time of year for (combat veterans),” Cooper said. “Many of them will make plans for trips into the mountains just to be isolated from the fireworks. It’s a big deal in their lives, and they just try to work around it.”

“Hearing that noise, your heart just stops,” said Lorrie McLaughlin, who works with the Associated Veterans of Loveland. “That first reaction is to jump, move, get down — something like that.”

McLaughlin, a Vietnam veteran, works with combat veterans. She said a number of the veterans she works with have problems with fireworks. The loud banging and explosions, similar to what they experienced in combat, can cause anxiety, post-traumatic stress and even flashbacks.

Fire Marshal Steve Gosselin for the North Metro Fire Rescue District — which covers Broomfield, Northglenn and unincorporated Adams, Boulder, Jefferson and Weld Counties — said that, in addition to the jarring impact they can have on the community, setting off most fireworks is also illegal.

“Bottle rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, cherry bombs, shells and rockets, and M-80s (are all illegal),” said Gosselin, also division chief of fire prevention. “Those who use illegal fireworks are subject to fines of over $2,500 and possible jail time.”

Gosselin said that individual municipalities and counties often have stricter regulations on fireworks, but across Colorado, any firework that explodes or leaves the ground is illegal.

Plus, they can be fire hazards, too.

Last year, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control reported that 387 fires were caused by fireworks. Although drought conditions across the Front Range are minimal right now, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder, a wet spring is no guarantee for low wildfire risk, especially as fire season continues on and temperatures heat up.

“We had a nice rainy pattern for much of May and into June, but those rains get spottier as we head into the summer months,” Meteorologist David Barjenbruch, with the National Weather Service in Boulder, said. “As things warm up and dry out, that fire danger increases, and you always need to exercise caution when working with anything that can spark or start a fire.”

From wind to flammables, experts working at authorized displays said they take special precautions to ensure safety.

“All of our shows are approved by the fire department, they come out and inspect the property to make sure we have any and all flammables outside the safety zone, and make sure we’re prepared to shoot things differently if the wind shifts,” said Brian Laurence, general manager of the Colorado National Speedway, 4281 Weld County Road 10 in Dacono.

After some of its races, the speedway often puts on fireworks shows. They’ve launched a Fourth of July display every year for about 25 years, according to Laurence. This year, they’ll host a pair of weekend shows after the  6:30 p.m. races on Friday and Saturday. More information and tickets can be found at coloradospeedway.com.

Laurence said the speedway hires pyrotechnicians from the Denver-based company Tri-State Fireworks to put on the annual show, and, as luck would have it, fire trucks are already on the scene for the races.

“Fireworks are as unpredictable as anything,” Laurence said. “So if anything goes wrong, we already have the trucks there to handle it.”

For shows at the speedway and across the Front Range, experts are working together to make sure the holiday is fun and safe for everyone.

“For everyone’s safety, we really recommend people leave it to the professionals,” Gosselin said.

FIREWORKS DISPLAYS

July 3

Berthoud: Berthoud’s seventh-annual Third of July Celebration will take place from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Waggoner Farm Fark, 1000 N. Berthoud Parkway. The free, family-friendly event features music, 27 food trucks, a beer garden, inflatables, activities and fireworks. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with a DJ, then live music from Stuck on Vinyl from 7-9 p.m. Fireworks start at dusk; berthoud.org/1564/3rd-of-July.

Erie: Enjoy another early fireworks show and other festivities from 6 to10 p.m. Thursday at Erie Community Park, 450 Powers St. Food trucks and vendors will be available throughout the event. The fireworks will begin around 9 p.m.; erieco.gov/1560/Fireworks-Show.

July 4

Berthoud: TPC Colorado golf course, along the Little Thompson River, will host an Independence Day Celebration from 7:30 to10 p.m. Friday at 2375 TPC Parkway. The event will feature music by Iconix from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., followed by fireworks from 9:30 to 9:50 p.m. The event is free, but tickets are required; bit.ly/4435Urp.

Boulder: No fireworks show.

Broomfield: The Great American Picnic is back with fun for the whole family, including inflatables, concessions, food vendors and a beer garden for those ages 21 and older at Broomfield County Commons Park, 13200 Sheridan Blvd. Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. Friday, and there will be a bike parade and live music starting from the female electric string quartet Spinphony and That Eighties Band starting at 6 p.m. The evening ends with a bang with fireworks set off at 9:15 p.m. broomfield.org.

Denver: Fireworks will light up the sky over Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., following the Rockies vs. White Sox game on Friday and Saturday; mlb.com/rockies/tickets/specials/fireworks. Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle, will host a show at the park’s closing time around 9 p.m. Saturday; elitchgardens.com.

Estes Park: Watch a brilliant fireworks display unfold in the sky over Lake Estes. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, and find a spot along the lake for a viewing spot. Fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m. Before the show, head to Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, at 5:30 p.m. Friday for Eagles tribute music by The Long Run, and enjoy food, local beer and spirits. Tickets are $10-$22; visitestespark.com.

Firestone: This annual celebration returns to Miners Park, 170 Grant Ave., on Friday, kicking off with a 10 a.m. parade at Fourth and Grant streets. The day will follow with festivities, food trucks and treats. Kids can enjoy a zip line, rock climbing wall, mechanical bull, bounce houses, toddler zone and more. SUPA! Marimba will bring live tunes, followed by performances by mariachi and folklorico dancers. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.; firestoneco.gov/133/4th-at-Firestone.

Fort Collins: Starting the day early, at 7:30 a.m. Friday, is the Firecracker 5K at City Park, 1500 W. Mulberry St., followed by the arrival of food trucks and festive folk who will travel westbound on Mountain Avenue between Howes and Jackson at 10 a.m. for the Independence Day Parade. The Family Fun zone runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at City Park and the live music goes from 4 to 8:30 p.m. with music from FoCo Motown Revue, The Patti Fiasco and Funky Business. Fireworks launch at 9:35 p.m. from Sheldon Lake at City Park; fcgov.com/july4th.

Loveland: No fireworks.

Greeley: Greeley Stampede, 600 N. 14th Ave., is holding special events for the Fourth. Kick off the day at 9 a.m. Friday with the Independence Day Parade. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Friday. Park admission is $4-$7; greeleystampede.org. Greeley Country Club, 4500 W. 10th St., is also hosting a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.; greeleypd.com/fireworks.

Longmont: The annual Fourth of July Concert in the Park will feature performances by the Longmont Symphony Orchestra and the Longmont Chorale, the annual picnic contest, and other free activities at Roosevelt Park. Picnic contest registration begins at 11 a.m., and music performances and other special programming will run from 12:30 to 3 p.m. The event ends with a bang when cannons blast along with the Symphony performing the “1812 Overture.” From 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, the celebration continues with a street party, a drone show and fireworks on Emery Street, between First and Third avenues. The drone show will take off above Dickens Farm Nature Area, and the fireworks will launch from the Longmont Fire Training Center. The green space south of Left Hand Creek and north of the Longmont Museum and Recreation Center will offer a comfortable spot with great views; bit.ly/4k9v64o.

Louisville: This celebration of America will bring in food trucks, live music and summer activities to Coal Creek Golf Course, 585 W. Dillon Road. Note, there will be no parking at the golf course, but free shuttles will start at 5:30 p.m. and will run all evening from Louisville Recreation Center and Coal Creek Ace Hardware. Mighty Holler and Boulder Concert Band will provide the tunes and the fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m.; louisvilleco.gov.

Timnath: Celebrate the Fourth of July at 6 p.m. Friday at the Timnath Reservoir, 5824 County Road 40, for live music and family activities. The night will end with a fireworks show synced to music over the reservoir at 9:30 p.m. Prohibited items include pets, alcohol, grills and personal fireworks; timnath.org/4th-of-july-celebration.

Wellington: Starting with a pancake breakfast, the celebration will then march in a parade down Cleveland Avenue, followed by a family festival and a vendor market. There will be inflatables, games, vendors, a rescue vehicle exhibit, live music and a car show. Ahead of the fireworks show (that will be by Bee Lake on the east side of Sixth Street, across from the Eyestone Elementary School campuses), Wellington Community Band will host a free concert. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. and 97.1 FM will have music synchronized with the show at 9:39 p.m.; Wellington Community Park, 8760 Buffalo Creek Parkway; WellingtonColorado.gov/Fourth-of-July.

Westminster: Celebrate the holiday starting at 4 p.m. at Westminster City Park, 10455 N. Sheridan Blvd. There will be live music by Little Moses Jones and Face Vocal Band, inflatables for kids and food and drink vendors. The fireworks show begins at 9:15 p.m.; westminsterco.gov/specialevents.

Windsor: The town will celebrate Independence Day from noon to 9:30 p.m. at Boardwalk Park, 100 N. Fifth St., where there will be local food trucks and vendors. Parlor Pickers will provide country music from 1-3 p.m., Michael Morrow and the Culprits will play rock from 4 to 6 p.m., and Those Crazy Nights, a Journey tribute band, will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. The fireworks show will start at 9:15 p.m.; recreationliveshere.com/216/July-4th-Activities.

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