Fireworks still on schedule for Lincoln Wednesday night
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[July 03, 2012]
Monday afternoon, Lincoln Park District
director Marcia Greenslate contacted LDN saying that yes, the
fireworks scheduled at the park district on Wednesday evening will
still go on.
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On Monday evening before the regular meeting of the Lincoln
City Council, city fire Chief Mark Miller explained what is being
done to protect the area and its citizens from potential fire caused
by the fireworks. Miller said that on Monday afternoon he, Lincoln
Rural Fire Protection District Chief Chad Letterle and the
maintenance supervisor at the park district had met and looked at
the area where the fireworks will be shot off.
Miller said first of all, the area is well mowed with no tall
grass nearby. In addition, in the field along the edges of the area,
the vegetation is green and appears to be faring well.
Miller said Letterle's department has a plan to help make the
immediate area around the firing site more fireproof.
The LRFPD has a product they can mix in their water tank and
spray on the grass to add a fire-retardant element to the area and
help prevent fires from starting.
Miller said that product will be applied to the firing area
immediately before the show begins and should offer some added
assurance that all will go well.
In addition to all this, Letterle and Miller paid a visit to the
NOAA weather station in Lincoln on Monday and sought advice on what
the weather is going to be like. They were told that right now it is
expected that winds will be gentle and out of the southwest. Miller
said that would play in their favor in preventing any ignition in
the area.
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During the regular voting session of the council on Monday night,
Miller told the council that the city and rural fire departments
will both be at the park district on Wednesday night. They feel
confident all will go well, but they will also be well prepared if
anything should go wrong.
He also noted that he is much more concerned about those who may
be planning to set off their own displays at home.
He reminded the public that sparks in dry grass or even a spark
that might go into a gutter on a rooftop can start a fire in just a
matter of seconds.
He said with the extreme dryness in the area, the public should
be well prepared for emergencies. He warned that they should pay
close attention to flying sparks and have a garden hose handy to
extinguish small fires as quickly as possible.
[By NILA SMITH]
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