Pilot Butte in Bend, Oregon, is being prepared for the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show, which will feature over 1,000 shells and a massive 12-inch finale shell creating a 1,200-foot diameter explosion.
Safety Precautions
Extensive safety measures have been implemented by local parks and fire agencies to prevent fires around the butte during the event. These preparations include months of coordination between various agencies to ensure a safe event for the community.
Sam Wilson, Fire Inspector with Bend Fire & Rescue, emphasized the extensive planning involved. “We’ve spent months of preparation and coordination with all of our surrounding agencies to ensure that the community of Bend has a safe and memorable Fourth of July,” Wilson said.
For the duration of the event, Pilot Butte will be completely closed to the public, with only firefighters, security personnel, and Sure-Shot Fireworks staff allowed on site.
Event Details
Each firework will be launched out of tubes that form a ring around the top of the butte. Some shells are fired by hand and others are electronically triggered. The largest shells are sunken into containers of sand to absorb the shockwave generated during launch.
Subaru of Bend is sponsoring this year’s event. Jake Thomas, representing Subaru of Bend, noted the community’s appreciation for such displays. “Central Oregon does appreciate a good fire display,” Thomas said. “So it’s just something that we wanted to give back and help continue that tradition.”
Sure-Shot Fireworks has been producing this show for many years. Chris Mattison, owner of Sure Shot Fireworks, expressed his excitement for the nation’s upcoming milestone. “Yeah. We are so excited for the United States to hit the 250 years, there’s been a lot of sacrifices. There’s been a lot of military, a lot of generations to build what we have today. And today is a good day to mark that. A quarter of a century that we did it. We’re still here and we love it.”
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
