Fireworks show to honor RBVFD
By JULIE ZEEB -DN Staff Writer
The Fourth of July Heritage Days committee will recognize its predecessors as it takes on the tradition of putting on the fireworks show as a part of this year's inaugural event to be held at the Tehama District Fairground. "The Fourth of July Heritage Days committee is honoring the Red Bluff Volunteer Fire Department for (its) unwavering service and commitment to bringing fireworks to Tehama County," said Chairwoman Tonya Redamonti. The recognition will take place at the beginning of the fireworks show, which will come at the end of a day-long celebration. "The Fourth of July committee is excited to continue the tradition started by the firefighters and bring to the county a fun-filled family event culminating in a spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks show," Redamonti said. Prior to this year, the Red Bluff Volunteer Fire Department had put on a free fireworks show for the community with proceeds from the Safe and Sane Fireworks stands paying for the event. Staffing issues and the ever-growing perception that firefighters should not be selling fireworks has caused the firefighters to opt out of putting on the show, Fire Chief Michael Bachmeyer said. Bachmeyer said firefighters had been putting on the fireworks show since the late 1950s. "The show was us as the two entities (city firefighters and volunteers) giving back to the community," Bachmeyer said. "Without the community, there'd be no need for the rest of us." When the fireworks show first began, firefighters were licensed pyrotechnicians who launched the show themselves. It was not until the 1990s that the fire department had to hire people to put on the show. With the number of reserve firefighters dropping, it has been tougher for the fire department to have the personnel available, making it harder to put on the show. This was particularly true in the summer of 2008, when massive wildfires left the department without the manpower to make the show happen. It was delayed until September. "Traditions are essential to our everyday life as members of the fire service and the community," Bachmeyer said. "Unfortunately, the community fireworks show is one that (firefighters) can no longer continue, however, its continuation is greatly anticipated and appreciated."
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_12428568
The Fourth of July Heritage Days committee will recognize its predecessors as it takes on the tradition of putting on the fireworks show as a part of this year's inaugural event to be held at the Tehama District Fairground. "The Fourth of July Heritage Days committee is honoring the Red Bluff Volunteer Fire Department for (its) unwavering service and commitment to bringing fireworks to Tehama County," said Chairwoman Tonya Redamonti. The recognition will take place at the beginning of the fireworks show, which will come at the end of a day-long celebration. "The Fourth of July committee is excited to continue the tradition started by the firefighters and bring to the county a fun-filled family event culminating in a spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks show," Redamonti said. Prior to this year, the Red Bluff Volunteer Fire Department had put on a free fireworks show for the community with proceeds from the Safe and Sane Fireworks stands paying for the event. Staffing issues and the ever-growing perception that firefighters should not be selling fireworks has caused the firefighters to opt out of putting on the show, Fire Chief Michael Bachmeyer said. Bachmeyer said firefighters had been putting on the fireworks show since the late 1950s. "The show was us as the two entities (city firefighters and volunteers) giving back to the community," Bachmeyer said. "Without the community, there'd be no need for the rest of us." When the fireworks show first began, firefighters were licensed pyrotechnicians who launched the show themselves. It was not until the 1990s that the fire department had to hire people to put on the show. With the number of reserve firefighters dropping, it has been tougher for the fire department to have the personnel available, making it harder to put on the show. This was particularly true in the summer of 2008, when massive wildfires left the department without the manpower to make the show happen. It was delayed until September. "Traditions are essential to our everyday life as members of the fire service and the community," Bachmeyer said. "Unfortunately, the community fireworks show is one that (firefighters) can no longer continue, however, its continuation is greatly anticipated and appreciated."
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_12428568
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