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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/03/aspen-fourth-of-july-fireworks-cancelled-drones
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fourth of July: drones to replace firework displays due to wildfire risk | Fourth of July: drones to replace firework displays due to wildfire risk |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The night sky above Aspen will light up with a patriotic display this Fourth of July as always – just not with the usual fireworks. | The night sky above Aspen will light up with a patriotic display this Fourth of July as always – just not with the usual fireworks. |
| For the first time, the flashes of red, white and blue glowing against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains will be provided by drones. | For the first time, the flashes of red, white and blue glowing against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains will be provided by drones. |
| Massive Oregon wildfire started by teen with fireworks, police say | Massive Oregon wildfire started by teen with fireworks, police say |
| Wildfire risk is so high in the drought-stricken Rockies and across the American west that the renowned ski town has canceled the traditional Independence Day fireworks – as have a number of others in Colorado, Arizona, California and elsewhere. | Wildfire risk is so high in the drought-stricken Rockies and across the American west that the renowned ski town has canceled the traditional Independence Day fireworks – as have a number of others in Colorado, Arizona, California and elsewhere. |
| And with experts warning that climate change is leading to prolonged drought and extreme fire risk in the longer term, drones and lasers could increasingly become the new fireworks. | And with experts warning that climate change is leading to prolonged drought and extreme fire risk in the longer term, drones and lasers could increasingly become the new fireworks. |
| Flagstaff, Arizona, is among those cities that have canceled their fireworks this 4 July. An event organizer said planners tried to get a laser show as an alternative but presenters were all booked up – not least by a laser display planned for the Grand Canyon. | Flagstaff, Arizona, is among those cities that have canceled their fireworks this 4 July. An event organizer said planners tried to get a laser show as an alternative but presenters were all booked up – not least by a laser display planned for the Grand Canyon. |
| Many places are making do with parades, concerts, children’s competitions, costume parties and other flame-free events. But Aspen is making its mark with a 50-drone computerized display. | Many places are making do with parades, concerts, children’s competitions, costume parties and other flame-free events. But Aspen is making its mark with a 50-drone computerized display. |
| “We had to come up with a highlight for our celebrations so we’re doing a drone show. It should be fun, a bit new age,” said Melissa Wisenbaker, a spokeswoman for the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, which is organizing the event. | “We had to come up with a highlight for our celebrations so we’re doing a drone show. It should be fun, a bit new age,” said Melissa Wisenbaker, a spokeswoman for the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, which is organizing the event. |
| The idea came from a spectacular drone show at the most recent winter Olympics, she said, which became a media and internet sensation. Fleets of coordinated drones danced in the skies above Pyeongchang, South Korea, and “swarmed” variously into the shapes of a flying dove, a leaping snowboarder and the Olympic rings. | The idea came from a spectacular drone show at the most recent winter Olympics, she said, which became a media and internet sensation. Fleets of coordinated drones danced in the skies above Pyeongchang, South Korea, and “swarmed” variously into the shapes of a flying dove, a leaping snowboarder and the Olympic rings. |
| “There’s a big fire ban in Aspen right now, and other areas of Colorado. We’ve never had a ban this harsh in effect,” Wisenbaker said. | “There’s a big fire ban in Aspen right now, and other areas of Colorado. We’ve never had a ban this harsh in effect,” Wisenbaker said. |
| Restrictions are so tight in the town that smoking outdoors, barbecuing with charcoal and all campfires are banned. She said it was “hard to say” if climate change was a contributing factor. | Restrictions are so tight in the town that smoking outdoors, barbecuing with charcoal and all campfires are banned. She said it was “hard to say” if climate change was a contributing factor. |
| Reyna Price, sales and marketing director of the Michigan-based Great Lakes Drone Company, which has been hired to put on the drone show in Aspen on Wednesday, said it was a growing business. But it is still a niche that requires Federal Aviation Administration permission – and can spark confusion. | Reyna Price, sales and marketing director of the Michigan-based Great Lakes Drone Company, which has been hired to put on the drone show in Aspen on Wednesday, said it was a growing business. But it is still a niche that requires Federal Aviation Administration permission – and can spark confusion. |
| “We’ve had people calling in before thinking they’ve seen a UFO,” Price said. The Aspen drones will form the shape of an eagle, the stars and stripes and other “patriotic shapes” set to songs such as Sweet Home Alabama and Party in the USA. | “We’ve had people calling in before thinking they’ve seen a UFO,” Price said. The Aspen drones will form the shape of an eagle, the stars and stripes and other “patriotic shapes” set to songs such as Sweet Home Alabama and Party in the USA. |
| Many wildfires are already burning across the west. After a series of particularly devastating infernos in California in 2017, the governor, Jerry Brown warned that the state faced a “new normal” of fire risk exacerbated by climate change. The city of Winters, near Sacramento, has canceled its 4 July fireworks this year because of wildfires currently raging. Los Alamos county in New Mexico has done the same. | Many wildfires are already burning across the west. After a series of particularly devastating infernos in California in 2017, the governor, Jerry Brown warned that the state faced a “new normal” of fire risk exacerbated by climate change. The city of Winters, near Sacramento, has canceled its 4 July fireworks this year because of wildfires currently raging. Los Alamos county in New Mexico has done the same. |
| The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that the US tallied a record $306bn bill last year for the cost of weather disasters, including a record-smashing $18bn in wildfire damage, and warned that increasing extremes “have climate change fingerprints on them”. | The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that the US tallied a record $306bn bill last year for the cost of weather disasters, including a record-smashing $18bn in wildfire damage, and warned that increasing extremes “have climate change fingerprints on them”. |
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| “We are certainly taking it into consideration,” Claire Harper, a spokeswoman for Flagstaff, said of climate change fueling more drought and wildfires. The town in northern Arizona had such a dry winter and spring that the surrounding forests are closed, in case hikers spark a blaze. The town will hold a lot of Independence Day events, “but the laser light shows were all booked up”, she said. | “We are certainly taking it into consideration,” Claire Harper, a spokeswoman for Flagstaff, said of climate change fueling more drought and wildfires. The town in northern Arizona had such a dry winter and spring that the surrounding forests are closed, in case hikers spark a blaze. The town will hold a lot of Independence Day events, “but the laser light shows were all booked up”, she said. |
| Back in Aspen, Wisenbaker said the city authorities knew people were disappointed not to have fireworks – even sparklers are banned – but that “people understand”. | Back in Aspen, Wisenbaker said the city authorities knew people were disappointed not to have fireworks – even sparklers are banned – but that “people understand”. |
| It’s the best news for some, however. | It’s the best news for some, however. |
| “Our cats and dogs will be super happy,” said Wisenbaker, adding that the fox, deer, bear and other wildlife native to the area are scared by fireworks, too, and will get some relief from the noise. | “Our cats and dogs will be super happy,” said Wisenbaker, adding that the fox, deer, bear and other wildlife native to the area are scared by fireworks, too, and will get some relief from the noise. |
| Drones (non-military) | Drones (non-military) |
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