Suggests Fireworks in Controlled Area

I know what can happen because back in the mid ’50s they always held the fireworks in the old city park at Second Street and High Street. After the fireworks, all the people in the neighborhood were sitting on their porches because we didn’t have air conditioning and it was cooler.

Later in the evening when everyone was ready to retire for the night, I noticed what appeared to be smoke on the roof across the street at the last house. I had a car with two spotlights and I directed them at the roof of the house to confirm my suspicions, and sure enough, the roof was starting on fire. We alerted the neighbors and we all worked together to get water on it. We quickly got it out so it didn’t damage anything, which saved the house.

I am writing this letter to alert people hoping that everyone would not shoot off fireworks during this extreme dry weather condition. Perhaps in the future the city of Washington could designate an area in a park or at the riverfront, for one night, so that the children of the community could shoot their fireworks off in an area controlled by police and fire departments.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July.