This Fourth of July, some American cities are choosing drone shows over traditional fireworks because of the negative environmental effects of traditional pyrotechnics.
Salt Lake City and Boulder have joined towns like Lake Tahoe in switching from loud, dramatic rockets to the more peaceful, environmentally friendly drones. This year marks the second annual drone display in Lake Tahoe.
Aerial performances known as drone shows employ a fleet of drones, each equipped with bright LED lights, to animate and create patterns, shapes, and spaces in the sky. According to the drone business Sky Elements, the drones provide a personalized kind of entertainment as an alternative to conventional pyrotechnics.
According to Rick Boss, owner of Sky Elements Drone performances, drone performances have an edge over fireworks for communities concerned about forest fires and other environmental effects. He continued that drone exhibitions pose a lot less risk than fireworks.
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A drone show in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday marked the beginning of the city’s Independence Day weekend. The new performance, according to Mayor Erin Mendenhall, is an attempt to reduce the “high fire danger” and “air quality concerns” brought on by pyrotechnics.
“As temperatures rise and fire danger increases, we must be conscientious of both our air quality and the potential for wildfires,” Mendenhall said in a press release.
According to the state’s Department of Public Safety, with 800 to 1,000 wildfires reported annually, Utah is currently one of the states with the highest wildfire risk in the nation. According to the government, there were 1,327 wildfires in Utah in 2018 with estimated damages of $13.4 million.
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No everyone has been happy with the switch —for many, 4th of July is not complete without “bombs bursting in air.” Some cities who adopted the high-tech drone displays in recent years have had to switch back.
Parker, Colorado, had a drone show in 2022, but they’ve moved back to fireworks, citing a survey that found “a majority of respondents stated they would prefer to see fireworks on Independence Day.” Galveston, Texas, is also reverting to traditional fireworks after using drones last year.
