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A Fourth with no fireworks?

Aspen Times writer

The city of Aspen has canceled its fireworks display after Sheriff Bob Braudis and local fire officials concluded that the fire danger is too high in the upper valley.But there will be fireworks displays on July 4 in three downvalley communities – Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs – despite a burn ban that remains in effect.At Basalt, the Roaring Fork Club will hold its traditional display, according to former Pitkin County fire department member Tim Cottrell, the state-certified fireworks expert who is likely to be in charge of the display.Cottrell said the show begins about 9:45 p.m. “from the middle of a golf course, so we’re not too worried about anything catching fire.” The display was authorized by both the town of Basalt, the Basalt fire department and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.In Carbondale, the annual display will be set off by the Carbondale and Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Chief Ron Leach said, and it will be launched from the same White Hill location as in years past.Because the fire department is in charge of the display, Leach said, there will be fire trucks on hand. He and town officials agreed it could go on as planned.The Carbondale fireworks are scheduled for 9 or 9:15 p.m., following a day of music and fun in town. It all starts with a parade down Main Street at 4 p.m., music by Acoustic Mayhem after the parade, and a concert by headliners The Gourds at 7 p.m. There will be free watermelon in Sopris Park, a barbecue from Smokin’ Willie’s and beer from Stone Brewery.In Glenwood Springs, Fire Chief Mike Piper said the city has hired a professional firm of pyrotechnics experts to put on the show at Two Rivers Park, located at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers. He said the size of the fireworks canisters has been limited to keep the pyrotechnics within the park area and that his fire trucks will be nearby to deal with whatever might flare up.He said the most important consideration for his department is to watch for small blazes caused by banned private fireworks, which are “where we usually get most of our problems.”The Glenwood Springs display is scheduled for 9:30 at Two Rivers Park, following a concert by Symphony In The Valley starting at 8 p.m.During the day, the fun will be downtown, including the Patriotic Glenwood Springs Downtown Market, vegetable and fruit stands, wine tastings, craft booths, food vendors, cooking demonstrations and live music by The Sirens., 4 p.m. to dusk, at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue.