Laramie Gets Ready For 2018 Fire in the Sky Display

The City of Laramie is getting ready for the 2018 City-sponsored Fire in the Sky fireworks display next Wednesday, July 4^th.

The fireworks display is scheduled to begin at about 9 p.m., unless poor weather conditions prevent the show. In that case, the City says, the show will be held on July 5^th.

Pyrotechnician Dave Akers is returning for his 28^th consecutive display in Laramie and D&M Displays of Iowa will supply the fireworks. The fireworks will be launched from the area near 22^nd Street and Armory Road.

Spectators will not be allowed to be within a 600-foot radius safety zone around the launch site due to falling shell debris, in accordance with the 2015 International Fire Code and the 2013 edition of the National Fire Protection Association Standard for Fireworks Display.

People within the 600 foot drop zone perimeter will be asked to leave by law enforcement and could be subject to criminal citation for refusing to cooperate. The City says ground fireworks will not be used this year as they have in past years, so being closer to the launch site will not give people a viewing advantage.

Some street closures will be in place during the display because of their proximity to the drop zone. They include portions of 22^nd Street, Armory Road and Television Road.

Armory Road will be closed west from Television Road to 22^nd Street, 22^nd Street will be closed between Willett Drive and Harney Street and Television Road will be closed from the intersection at Armory Road north to Harney Street. Harney Street will not be closed in the immediate vicinity unless prevailing wind conditions require its closure.

The City is reminding residents that spectator parking is not going to be permitted along Harney Street between the intersections of Television Road and North 19^th Street. In the past, winds have carried shell debris to the intersection of 22^nd Street and Harney and into portions of Harney Street, north of the launch site.

City Fire Marshal Mark Doyle says Laramie residents should avoid some areas for spectating because of their 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 North 19^th Street and Television Road and the parking lot north of the UW Centennial Complex/American Heritage Center.

The City says it would be impossible to protect people in those areas from shell debris if the wind shifts and it would be difficult to move people once they are parked.

Good viewing places include nearby City Parks, such as Washington, LaPrele, Harbon, Scout and Kiowa Parks and other spots such as Fraternity/Sorority Park on the UW campus, the Cirrus Sky Trail behind Indian Paint Brush school.

Information regarding the display can be found at the City of Laramie Facebook page.