More cities across Southern California are turning to drone shows as a replacement for fireworks during the Fourth of July celebrations in an attempt to curb fireworks’ harmful environmental effects.
This year in Laguna Beach, officials decided to scrap the city’s typical pyrotechnic show for hundreds of drones that are set to light up the sky above Heisler Park.
It’s the first time the city has made the switch in its traditional fireworks display since it began in the 1980s.
Councilmember George Weiss said the city wanted to find a way to celebrate the holiday in a way that’s less impactful on the environment for the coastal city.
“We have our Climate Action Plan rolling out this year, and there are some negative aspects to the regular fireworks with the noise and the pollution of the air and also pollution of the ocean,” Weiss said in a phone interview. “And also the impacts on people with PTSD, dogs and cats, and so we thought, other cities have been trying this. We thought we might give it a go.”
Weiss said the drone light show will cost the city $75,000 compared to the $42,000 to put on a traditional fireworks display.
Even with the upped price tag, he said it’s important to protect the city’s beaches. He also emphasized the cost should come down as drone light shows become more popular and more providers enter the marketplace.
“The ocean is our lifeblood here,” Weiss said. “We’re 26 beaches and six million tourists. Why pollute the ocean or the air?”
Laguna Beach’s show is expected to feature 300 drones in a 15-minute display. It’s slated to begin at 9 p.m. on July 4 from Monument Point in Heisler Park.
Safe and Sane fireworks are only legal in the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Santa Ana, Stanton, Villa Park and Westminster, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
Meanwhile, other Southern California cities have also turned to drones for the Fourth of July.
This year, Southern California residents can also catch a light show in La Jolla Shores, Downtown Los Angeles or Rancho Palos Verdes.
Last year, the local air pollution control agency issued an advisory warning the night before July 4, saying that particle pollution from fireworks may cause hazardous air quality in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Scott Epstein, an air quality assessment manager at the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said the agency often puts out these advisories on July 4 each year.
He said it’s because the particle pollution levels on the Fourth of July can be higher than during a wildfire.
“We know that fireworks are a very large source of air pollution emissions on the fourth and fifth of July, and anything that can reduce those emissions is beneficial for public health, whether it’s a drone show or some other option to provide entertainment and celebration for people,” Epstein said in a phone interview.
Fireworks emit particle pollution and other air pollutants that can have harmful health effects.
On July 4 and 5, these particle pollution levels are typically among the highest days of the year in the South Coast Air Basin.
Epstein described how breathing in the pollution that comes from fireworks – especially near the site, where the contamination is worse – can cause cardiovascular and respiratory health issues like heart attacks, asthma aggravation and difficulty breathing.
“I lived in Laguna Beach for 10 years in a small apartment downtown, and the city is directly downwind of the fireworks display that they do off Heisler Park,” Epstein said. “It’s very clear when you see that – launching the fireworks and then the winds bring everything inland, and you see that plume move in and just overwhelm the city.”
At a time when Orange County is heating up for the summer, environmental experts also warn about accidentally igniting wildfires, especially when residents are setting off fireworks in the backyards or neighborhoods.
While some residents voiced opposition to breaking tradition in Laguna Beach, Weiss said he hopes the community will welcome the switch for the benefits it can bring.
“I hope it’s a great show for families and a celebration of the country’s founding as we do every year,” Weiss said. “I hope people will accept that change for the environment.”
Angelina Hicks is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.
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