Cortez Mayor Dennis Spruell has urged community members to remain civil in debates over the city’s planned Fourth of July fireworks display, emphasizing that the Cortez Fire Protection District and other safety professionals support proceeding with the show.
In a statement released by the city of Cortez on Thursday, Spruell spoke of “strong public opinions” on the fireworks, asking that residents avoid directing anger at city staff, public safety personnel and firefighters.
“As your mayor, I ask that we engage on this topic in a respectful manner. We are all neighbors here in Cortez; while it is perfectly appropriate to disagree, it is never acceptable to demean, devalue, or disrespect one another or those who serve our city,” Spruell said in his statement.
He added that the conditions at Parque de Vida support a safe and successful show like previous years. In a phone call on Friday, Spruell told The Journal that many of the concerns from citizens were regarding respect for firefighters, but the Cortez Fire Protection District hosts the show and launches the fireworks.
The Cortez Fire Protection District did not respond to a request for comment.
Spruell also argued that canceling the official display may indirectly encourage and increase the risk of unregulated personal fireworks use, leading to greater fire hazards.
“If people don’t have fireworks and they want fireworks, it’s a possibility that they could get some and start their own, and that’s exactly what we don’t want to happen,” Spruell shared. “We want them to be able to come to Cortez and enjoy a safe fireworks display, and not shoot their own up and cause major fires.”
The city and the fire district will continue monitoring the weather and environmental conditions leading up to the event, emphasizing that the show will be canceled if conditions deteriorate and it is no longer safe to proceed.
“We recognize and respect that there are deeply held, differing perspectives on this matter within our community. However, canceling the event without an operational basis determined by professionals erodes public trust,” Spruell said in the posted statement.
He added that, as long as it is safe, the fireworks show is an integral part of celebrating the U.S.’s 250th birthday.
“America is the greatest country in the whole wide world, and why not celebrate living in the most magnificent country in the whole wide world? We get together once a year to celebrate that, and I'd hate to see that go away because of some fears,” Spruell told The Journal. “I'm not going to quit living because I'm afraid of dying, and you know, I want us to celebrate and show our patriotism and how much we love our country.”
On Facebook, comments supporting and ridiculing the show were posted in equal measure.
“It’s not about patriotism it’s about the safety of the community and citizens within it and the surrounding areas,” one commenter said. “Our whole state is on fire and we had three firefighters die fighting at the border of Colorado and Utah.”
“The other places that canceled their fireworks like Ute Mtn and Mancos should bring theirs to Cortez and have a hour long grand finale,” another said. “For the ones crying about Cortez still putting it on, wtf is going to catch on fire? The green grass or concrete or asphalt?”
Sheriff Steve Nowlin expressed his concerns in a phone call, noting the growing Ferris Fire and dry lightning set to return to the area on Monday. He said that the chance of individuals still setting off their own fireworks was high.
“With the Fourth of July weekend, I’m just kind of holding my breath,” Nowlin said. “All it takes is somebody using fireworks and it could be detrimental.”
He also addressed those camping for the holiday weekend.
“Follow regulations. It’s so important,” he said.
Nowlin added that a petty offense for shooting off fireworks is a fine of $300 and 10 days in jail. No one under 16 years of age is permitted to possess or use permissible fireworks, which “emits sparks or noise, but is not aerials or explosions.”
In the city, violators may face misdemeanor charges, fines and jail time, according to the Cortez city code, along with the potential revocation of any license or permit issued. Each day prohibited is a separate offense.
bduran@the-journal.com
