Tucson’s 29th annual fireworks celebration at ‘A’ Mountain may be the last, as the city plans to move to a drone show in future years. Kevin Luckenbill, a head pyrotechnician with Fireworks Production of Arizona, and his team set up nearly 1,000 aerial shells for the event.

Preparations and Safety Measures

Preparations for the fireworks show began around 1 p.m. with the pyrotechnicians unloading equipment and setting up large racks with black, orange, and yellow tubes. The wildland crew from the Tucson Fire Department scouted out the mountain for several days before the pyrotechnicians began setting up. Marc Lewis, a TFD fire inspector, oversaw the show’s preparations to ensure all fire safety measures were being followed.

The Tucson Fire Department took measures to be conscious of Buffelgrass, an invasive species that is highly adaptive to fire, and the wind’s direction while the wildland crew was set along the mountain during the show. Tucson Water provided trucks for the crews to spray areas on the mountain where the fireworks’ fallout could land.

Staffing Shortage and Fire Safety

TFD is facing a staffing shortage, while call and incident volumes have increased over the past few years, according to the department’s 2025 annual report. This puts pressure on available crews and resources to respond to emergency calls. Paul Moore, TFD assistant chief, emphasized the importance of fire safety, especially during the holiday.

As the wildland crew prepared to keep ‘A’ Mountain and the surrounding area safe during the city’s official fireworks show, TFD responded to calls and incidents around the city on one of the busiest days for firefighters.

Original reporting: Arizona Luminaria — read the source article.