Fire in the Sky to Light Up Laramie This 4th of July

My favorite part of the 4th of July has always been the fireworks. While fire restrictions will keep pretty much everyone in southeast Wyoming from setting off their own, you’ll still be able to enjoy a fireworks display in Laramie on Independence Day thanks to Fire in the Sky.

The 2012 City of Laramie sponsored Fire in the Sky fireworks display will be at 10:00 PM on Wednesday, July 4th with accompanying patriotic music airing on Y95 Country. Stonebraker Rocky Mountain Fireworks of Denver will supply the fireworks with Dave Akers returning for his 20th consecutive display in Laramie. The city reports that the display will again be launched from the parking lot of the Aragon Softball Complex near 22nd and Armory Road.

Approximately 450 aerial shells ranging in diameter from 3 inches up to 8 inches will be launched according to the City of Laramie. A 600 foot radius safety zone is required, meaning portions of N. 22nd Street, Armory Road, and Television Road will be closed prior to the display because of their proximity to the drop zone.

Depending on wind conditions and in an attempt to minimize traffic 22nd Street may be closed between Willett Drive and Harney Street; Armory Road will be closed west from Television Road to 22nd Street;Television Road will be closed from the intersection at Armory Road north to Harney Street; Harney Street may be closed in the immediate vicinity.

We know for sure that no spectator parking will be permitted along Harney Street between the intersections with Television Road and N. 19th Street. The city says winds have carried shell debris to the intersection at 22nd and Harney and onto portions of Harney Street north of the launch site during previous displays.

Fire in the Sky coordinator Randy Vickers requests that the public avoid the following areas for spectator viewing because of their immediate proximity to the drop zone: all portions of the LSA Soccer Field off Television Road, the UW Recreation Field adjacent to Armory Road, areas north of Harney Street between N. 19th Street and Television Road, and the parking lot north of the UW Centennial Complex/American Heritage Center. Although these areas are outside the drop zone, their proximity makes it impossible to protect spectators and vehicles from shell debris if the wind changes during the display.

Vickers encourages spectators to make viewing the display a family event and recommends viewing the show from nearby city parks (Washington, LaPrele, Harbon, Scout, and Kiowa Parks) and other locations such as Fraternity/Sorority Park on campus. The display consists of only aerial shells. Other optimal viewing locations include the bluff behind Indian Paint Brush School and large parking lots located around town.