Silverwood Theme Park cancels Fourth of July fireworks display

Silverwood Theme Park is canceling its Fourth of July fireworks show indefinitely amid concerns about wildfire danger.

The fireworks have been an annual event at the amusement park north of Coeur d’Alene for more than 20 years. While people look forward to the event, park officials are concerned about the potential to start fires.

“We’re lighting the fireworks in the middle of a forest,” as opposed to other local fireworks displays, which occur over lakes, said Jordan Carter, Silverwood’s marketing director.

“If something were to happen during our show, it would be devastating to the community,” he said.

Wildfires have had “a huge effect” on the region in recent years, Carter noted. In 2015, a wildfire that may have been caused by the emergency flare of a woman camping on Lake Pend Oreille burned nine homes in Bayview, Idaho, and charred 1,300 acres at the lake’s southern end.

Park officials made the announcement Monday to give Silverwood guests time to adjust their vacation plans if needed, Carter said. The Fourth of July holiday is typically the first weekend of the season that Silverwood’s RV park fills up.

Guests who want to change their reservations can call the park’s Guest Relations Department at (208) 683-3400, ext. 0.

Park officials made the decision based on recent wildfire seasons.