As severe drought grips Southwest Colorado and wildfires rage across the region, Silverton announced the cancellation of its annual Fourth of July fireworks display on Monday for the first time in six years.
The San Juan County sheriff and fire marshal ordered the cancellation as drought conditions persist, nearby wildfires continue to grow and fire danger remains high. Last week, San Juan County joined surrounding jurisdictions in enacting Stage 2 fire restrictions.
Hot, dry summers have become the norm across the Southwest over the past decade. But Silverton has long been an outlier, continuing to host its annual fireworks display while neighboring communities, including Durango, have increasingly canceled shows because of wildfire risk.
The last time Silverton went without fireworks was in 2020, when the celebration was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, town spokesperson DeAnne Gallegos said.
For Gallegos, the decision is another sign that this year’s drought is more severe than usual.
Earlier this month, Silverton enacted water restrictions for only the second time in the roughly 15 years Gallegos has lived in the mountain community.
“That’s unheard of,” she said. “This is where we collect water. We are at the top of the water source. Watching what’s happening in Silverton, I can only imagine the trickle-down effect on our downstream water users.”
The community has also had a front-row seat to several large wildfires burning across Southwest Colorado.
By Tuesday morning, the Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray had grown to more than 8,200 acres, prompting evacuation and pre-evacuation orders as well as air quality advisories, according to the Montrose Daily Press.
Silverton is preparing to serve as an overflow evacuation shelter if additional residents are displaced by the fire, Gallegos said.
Meanwhile, the Ferris Fire northwest of Dolores had grown to roughly 19,000 acres by Tuesday morning.
“I still kind of have a rough voice,” Gallegos said. “The smoke has been coming and going. We tend to collect smoke in our valley here in Silverton.”
The fires have also brought an increase in RV travelers seeking refuge from evacuation zones and smoky conditions, filling local campgrounds.
Despite the loss of fireworks, Gallegos said the rest of Silverton’s Fourth of July celebration will proceed as planned.
Live music begins at 10 a.m. Friday and continues until about 10 p.m. at several locations throughout town.
Gallegos expects the town to draw crowds similar to previous years. Recent economic studies found that while July generates the most sales tax revenue for Silverton, the Fourth of July itself is not a make-or-break weekend for local businesses, she said.
What could have a greater economic impact is the duration of the nearby wildfires and the amount of smoke that settles over town.
San Juan County entered Stage 2 fire restrictions Monday evening. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management were expected to implement matching restrictions Tuesday night.
Gallegos encouraged visitors planning to camp in the area to prepare for cool mountain temperatures while complying with fire restrictions.
“Absolutely no wood, no campfires,” she said. “We’re going to be on high alert for that and patrolling camp areas, so please be responsible.”
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