Pyrotechnic Rebels Gather at Twin Buttes

LIVE! made a trip out to Twin Buttes yesterday afternoon where the campers are already moving in, gearing up boats and jet skis, and ignoring the sign that prohibits the use of fireworks in the park posted at the entrance this year. The distinct sound of crackling Black Cats echoed through the air and evidence of larger pyrotechnics were in plain sight.

Many were angered earlier this week when the city announced that Twin Buttes would be closed over the Fourth of July weekend.

Last year, the city park at Twin Buttes was littered with debris from spent fireworks despite the city having dumpsters strategically placed throughout the park for revelers to clean up after themselves. Last year, the 4th was on Friday leaving most of the debris littered throughout the park until Monday when the city and county responded with a clean-up. City Public Information Officer Anthony Wilson said that the decision to close Twin Buttes this year was because of last year's experience.

What's more, Wilson stated Thursday that, "Twin Buttes is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which prohibits the possession or discharge of fireworks on its property."

The city must have received an overwhelming amount of complaints because by Wednesday they had decided to open the park for camping only—not fireworks. A press release stated that the park will be barricaded and manned to screen those entering to camp to ensure that they do not possess fireworks.

Historically, locals and out-of-towners have gathered at Twin Buttes to enjoy setting off their own fireworks outside of the city limits, as doing so inside the city limits is against the law.  If you are caught igniting fireworks within the city limits, you could acquire a class C misdemeanor and be fined up to $2,000.

There are a few fireworks stands along US 67 that have catered to those who prefer to put on their own pyrotechnic display.

The owners of Bad Boyz Fireworks (located about two miles from the Twin Buttes Marina Park entrance) were concerned that the city's action would cut into their sales for the season.

“My first thought was that people wouldn’t bother driving out this way at all to buy fireworks,” said Amy McEnery, daughter of the owner; Ronnie McEnery, “But so far, we are busier than ever. The rainfall this year has helped with that. We won’t really know how Twin Buttes being closed will affect our July 4th sales until we close that night. We have more concern that with that area being closed, that more people will find less safe places to set off their fireworks, like on the side of the road.”

Bad Boyz Fireworks donates 15 percent of the overall warehouse sales to the TLC Church. Every year, volunteers from the church come to help out at the warehouse.

Mr. W’s Fireworks is also located out on US 67 and its owner said that the prohibition of fireworks out at Twin Buttes has not affected their sales so far this year.

“People have just been asking where it is they can go to pop their fireworks,” Tamara Beuvick of Mr. W’s said. “I’ve told them to ask the police department where the best place to go is. Legally anywhere outside the city limits is good. Some people have gone up the road to the old vacant Stripes and popped them there. I just tell them wherever they go to make sure they clean up after themselves, because that’s the whole reason they shut it down out there this year. People don’t pick up their mess.”

Beuvick also suggested keeping a bucket of water close when igniting fireworks, in case a fire should break out.

Mr. W’s has a collection jar for the Sgt. Korby Kennedy memorial fund, and 10 percent of their sales were also donated to that fund from sales made Wednesday and Thursday.