Dangerous conditions lead to cancellation of Northstate fireworks show

A fireworks display in Red Bluff is photographed. (DN File)

RED BLUFF — Amid a series of cancellations, the July 4 fireworks display in Red Bluff was still scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

The show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, with fireworks being launched from the Red Bluff Elks Lodge. The Red Bluff Fireworks Committee said the best place to watch is River Park.

Jason Bauer, the Red Bluff Chamber of Commerce’s primary goals coordinator, said the chamber has not heard of any cancellations. He said while trade shows have been canceled in the past, this is usually the day the decision is made. The public would be notified of the change if cancellations were to occur.

Oroville city officials are asking residents not to use their safe and healthy fireworks at this time.

Fireworks during the 2023 River Park show in Red Bluff during the Fourth of July. (Contributed by Michelle Hickok)

On Tuesday, the California Department of Parks and Recreation announced that the Orovile Fourth of July fireworks show would be canceled due to public safety concerns.

The agency said that due to the evacuations and extensive damage caused by the Thompson Fire, state parks and partner agencies, including Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, public works and Oroville personnel, have a large number of resources available to respond to protect the community. It added that these agencies also have employees whose families were displaced by these evacuations who are assisting the Lake Oroville community.

All subunits of Lake Oroville State Recreation Area are temporarily closed to allow staff to focus on firefighting and community protection activities. State Parks anticipates that parks, including campgrounds, will remain closed through at least Friday.

Donations to the Oroville Chamber of Commerce for the fireworks will be used for a community fireworks show, which they will determine at a later, safer date.

Silver Dollar Speedway announced that its Chico fireworks show has been canceled. The company said Cal Fire has set up camp on the fairgrounds grounds and out of respect for the firefighters on site, evacuations and all fire protection personnel, they have decided not to hold the show.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this fire,” Silver Dollar Speedway added.

Paradise Mayor Steve Crowder also announced that the July 4th flag parade had been canceled due to extreme heat.

“I’m sorry to have to cancel, but it’s the prudent thing to do,” Crowder wrote. “We’ll miss the flags, I hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July.”

Another mayor, Brian Bassett of Biggs, announced that their main holiday event would not happen after speaking with the sheriff. He said the town would not have enough fireworks support to put on a fireworks show with everything going on. The breakfast and parade are still on.

“See you next year,” he said.

In Redding, the annual Freedom Festival on the grounds of the Redding Civic Auditorium continues at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The annual fireworks show will begin around 10 p.m. on the grounds of the Redding Civic Auditorium. According to city officials, the free show is one of the largest in California, with more than 1,700 shells produced by Pyro Spectacular.

Listen to 97.3 FM to hear the show’s soundtrack.

City officials said vendors will sell concessions from 6 p.m. to 9:55 p.m. They advised people to bring cash because not all vendors accept credit cards.