Fire danger prompts Frisco to cancel July 4th fireworks

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Safety and wildfire concerns drive difficult decision

Frisco’s Fourth of July includes a fabulous Main Street parade.

No Fireworks in Frisco this Fourth of July.

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — After serious discussion and soul-searching — not to mention some sobering input from Sheriff John Minor and local fire officials — the Frisco Town Council voted Tuesday night to cancel the traditional July 4th fireworks due to wildfire and public safety concerns.

The town may reschedule a fireworks display or create a new event sometime later in the summer, according to a press release from the town.

In a year when fuel moisture is at record low levels, it would only take one stray ember or spark to start a fire in forests or grasslands around the Reservoir.

In a letter to the town council, Sheriff Minor spelled out his concerns and said that the town would have taken on sole responsibility and liability for any damages resulting from a fire caused by fireworks or related activities. More details in this Summit Voice story. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, events, forest fires, Frisco, wildfires | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Drought watch: Breckenridge to ban fires and small fireworks

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Continued drought prompts Breckenridge to take additional steps to try and avoid a fire start.

Ordinance would enable mayor to ban in-town burning and fires by proclamation

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —On top of Stage 2 fire restrictions on National Forest lands and a statewide fire ban enacted by Gov. Hickenlooper, the Breckenridge Town Council may vote to give Mayor John Warner the power to ban fires on public and private lands within town limits.

According to police chief Shannon Haynes, the imminent threat of a destructive wildfire justifies the move. In a June 20 memo to the town council, Haynes wrote that extremely dry weather conditions are expected to persist and even worsen in the foreseeable future.

The council will discuss the emergency ordinance at the June 26 meeting. Passing the ordinance would give the mayor to immediately issue a proclamation. The order would be lifted when it’s determined that the severe fire threat has diminished. (more…)

Filed under: Breckenridge, Breckenridge town council, climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Statewide fire ban enacted in Colorado

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Open fires, private fireworks now prohibited

Firefighters at the High Park Fire in Larimer County work to protect structures. PHOTO COURTESY INCIWEB.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY —Although the two biggest wildfires currently burning in Colorado were both started by lightning, state officials want to reduce the chance of human-caused blazes by implementing a statewide ban on open fires and the private use of fireworks.

A bone-dry late winter and spring, along with well-above average temperatures several months in a row, have created dangerous fire conditions throughout much of the state. Any small fires could quickly grow out of control.

By most measures, at least three-quarters of all wildfires are started by human activities, including carelessness, escaped agricultural fires, forestry operations, sparks from off-road vehicles and even discarded cigarettes. Those statistics hold true in most other countries, as well.

In Summit County, the two most recent significant wildfires were caused by downed powerlines, including the Montezuma Fire in March, and the June 2011 fire at the mouth of Keystone Gulch. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Fourth of July ends with Frisco fireworks

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Pyrotechnics

Frisco Fireworks.

SUMMIT COUNTY — A fine Independence Day ended in the Colorado high country with fireworks displays like this one, which has become a Frisco tradition. Thousands of people line vantage points along I-70, the shores of Dillon Reservoir and every other spot that might offer a view. These shots were taken from the southeast-facing Summit Voice weather deck.

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Filed under: Colorado, Dillon Reservoir, Frisco, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Frisco’s Fantastic Fourth – fireworks, parade and concerts

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

All-American festivities in the Colorado high country

Fireworks over Frisco and Dillon Reservoir.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Fourth of July will once again be filled with traditional festivities in Frisco, beginning with a kids fishing derby at the Meadow Creek Pond behind Wal-Mart and ending with the lakeside fireworks display that’s recognized as one of the best in the Rockies.

The kids bike parade is a perennial favorite.

(more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Frisco, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Video: January events in Breckenridge

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Jenney Coberly

There was lots of sight and sound and motion in Breckenridge in January, 2011.

With the Breckenridge New Year’s Eve fireworks and concert, the Ullr Fest parade, and the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships, January was a good month for video. The 11 videos posted in January on the Summit Voice YouTube Channel garnered more than 3400 cumulative views so far.

The most viewed video in January was the Ullr Fest Parade, with 735 views as of today. The next most popular were the Tuaca Body Art Ball, with 397 views, and Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Championships Day 2, with 372 views. For coverage of the snow sculpture championships from day one through the awards ceremony and beyond, check out our Breckenridge Snow Sculpture page.

(more…)

Filed under: Breckenridge, music and concerts, snow sculpting, Summit County Colorado, Ullr Fest, video | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Photoblog: New Year’s Eve fireworks in Breckenridge

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Jenney Coberly

I made some screencaps from my video of the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Breckenridge.  I thought they looked especially beautiful against the outline of the trees and buildings of the town.  The vantage point is the Riverwalk Center parking lot.

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2010 New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Breckenridge

Filed under: Breckenridge, daily photoblog, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Breckenridge: Fireworks at fifteen below!

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Jenney Coberly

Happy New Year!

The fireworks display in Breckenridge went forward in spite of the frigid temperatures, and the audience in the Riverwalk Center parking lot enjoyed it.

Filed under: Breckenridge, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Frisco Fourth of July fireworks, 2010

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Fire in the sky over Frisco, Colorado

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SUMMIT COUNTY — Frisco’s impressive Independence Day fireworks display photographed from the deck at the Summit Voice office.

Filed under: photography, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , | 5 Comments »

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