Cda Jaycees Plan Even Bigger Fireworks Show Nonprofit Group Needs Help Paying For Traditional Blast

FOR THE RECORD: 7-3-98; ID Wrong time, title: A story in Wednesday’s paper incorrectly reported the time Sherman Avenue would be closed for Saturday’s Fourth of July Parade. It will be closed from 9:30 a.m. until the parade ends. The story also incorrectly reported where Lt. Greg Surplus works. He is with the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

The Lake City Jaycees are sending $30,000 up in smoke on Independence Day.

The nonprofit Junior Chamber of Commerce organization’s traditional fireworks display will be even larger than last year’s $25,000, record-breaking show, said Brent Copstead, chairman of the group’s board.

But the Jaycees had raised only $11,000 by Tuesday - $19,000 short of what they’ll need to put on Saturday’s show.

“If everyone who watches the show would just send in $1, we’d have the show paid off for three years,” Copstead said, estimating that about 100,000 people watch the Jaycees’ fireworks every Fourth of July. “The people who send in $2 or $3, that’s how we raise the bulk of the money.”

Last year, for example, the Jaycees raised about $8,000 during the parade alone, he estimated.

The pyrotechnicians will shoot off 5,689 individual fireworks, Copstead said.

Since The Coeur d’Alene Resort’s boardwalk is a popular place to view the fireworks display, the resort will limit the number of people on its boardwalk to 400 after 7:30 p.m.

Chairs, fireworks and alcoholic beverages are banned from the boardwalk. Some tables and benches will be available. Boat owners who lease slips in the Boardwalk Marina will have full access to their boats anytime during the day and evening.

Police and firefighters will be out in full force.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and the Idaho State Police will assist the Coeur d’Alene Police Department on Saturday. ISP also will assist other law enforcement agencies throughout the Panhandle. All three agencies will have all their officers on duty for the holiday.

Independence Day usually means double the number of incidents to which police respond, said Lt. Greg Surplus of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

The number of people attending the festivities also means leaving town after the show is over will take some time, he warned.

“They’re going to have to be patient. It’s going to take us anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half” to direct traffic out of town, he predicted. “There’s a whole lot of people and it stretches our resources to the limits.”

The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department will bring in all its reserve firefighters and extra trucks for Independence Day because of the massive crowds expected.

There are typically one or two cases of people being injured by fireworks each year, said Peter Vandall, the Coeur d’A lene Fire Department’s fire prevention officer.

“Of course, the only thing allowed in city limits are safe-and-sane fireworks,” he said. “Anything that leaves the ground or moves around is illegal.”

Last year, an illegal bottle rocket that landed in a wood pile next to a garage caught the wood on fire several hours later. The fire damaged the garage and the house, he said.

But Vandall conceded that enforcing the city ordinance against fireworks that move or fly is difficult. Firefighters and police can confiscate the contraband. And if illegal fireworks start a fire, the owners of those fireworks can be held liable, Vandall said.

Common sense will prevent most accidents, he said. “Be careful with what you’re doing.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: NO PARKING Sherman Avenue from Northwest Boulevard to 15th Street will be closed all day Saturday starting around 8:30 a.m. After that, any cars parked there will be towed. The Fort Grounds area also will be closed to motor vehicles starting at 7 p.m.