ROCK SPRINGS – A change is coming to the local Fourth of July fireworks show as the Rock Springs City Council officially entered into an agreement to move it to Western Wyoming Community College.

While this move has been discussed for several months now, the council officially moved the show at its Tuesday night meeting. Instead of lighting them at the Sweetwater Events Complex, the city will now have them in a central location.

Both Councilman Rob Zotti and Mayor Carl Demshar said they have received many calls about this. Demshar said the main question asked is why they are moving them. He explained its centrally located, they are up on a hill and more people can enjoy them in the city without leaving their homes. He said this satisfied most of the people he talked to.

However, both Demshar and Zotti said they heard concerns about people pulling into vacant lots in the areas around the college and lighting their own fireworks off. Not only could this create a fire hazard but there were also concerns raised about trash being left around.

Both Rock Springs Police Chief Dwane Pacheco and Rock Springs Fire Chief Jim Wamsley discussed Fourth of July plans.

First and foremost, Pacheco said fireworks are prohibited within the city limits. He told the council they would have extra patrols out that night.

Demshar said he feels good about having extra patrols in those respective areas. It was noted the areas around the college are more concentrated and not as spread out as the areas north of Rock Springs making it easier to patrol.

“I think your plan is a good one,” Demshar said. “I would encourage the police department to control that area.”

Chief Wamsley explained to the council that they will have a fire engine where the fireworks will be lit as a precaution. He also reported all the area fire chiefs will have a meeting next week to sit down and delineate how they are going to approach fire suppression on the Fourth of July.

Wamsley also urged people not to shoot their own fireworks this year.

“We recommend that people just sit back and watch the really nice ones that are being sponsored by the city,” Wamsley said. “They do a much better job than anybody does in their backyard.”

The vote was not unanimous. Councilman Tim Savage voted against the move.

“The fireworks have been out north for 30 years. I have never heard a complaint about it,” Savage told SweetwaterNOW. “Over these last few weeks I haven’t received any positive feedback about the move. To me if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. The most common concerns I have received are about traffic, PTSD and dogs becoming stressed and running loose. Hopefully, everything turns out fine and the change proves to be a good one.”