Jeremy Wallace | The Aspen Times file photo
With an eye on wildfire concerns, the president of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association said Tuesday morning there would not be Fourth of July fireworks over Aspen Mountain this summer.
Debbie Braun told the annual ACRA breakfast gathering that they would instead opt for a drone show, which was the plan last year until weather nixed that attempt.
Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo said Tuesday afternoon the announcement was “great” news. Last month, DiSalvo went to chamber officials to let them know he was considering a ban on all fireworks from May 1 to Nov. 1.
“I started with a suggestion, and if they’re picking up on that then it makes me happy,” DiSalvo, who was out of town, said Tuesday. “I’m really glad ACRA decided to do that.”
He said he’s especially pleased with the decision because ACRA was the biggest factor when it came to his proposal on banning fireworks.
“They were our biggest concern with the fireworks economy or whatever,” he said.
DiSalvo also reiterated Tuesday his feelings that fireworks should not be fired off at all during summer in the county. Last month, he proposed the ban to the Pitkin County commissioners, who have scheduled a work session for May 7 to discuss the topic.
He said previously the large amount of snow this year is no guarantee of a low fire season, and could, in fact, prompt a major fire season. The ample spring water will spur the growth of tall grass and other fuels, which can dry over the course of the summer and create a huge fire hazard, he said.
“It’s poor optics to light off fireworks,” he said Tuesday.