The traditional fireworks show above Riverside’s Mount Rubidoux is returning Tuesday, July 4, despite a past warning from the fire chief about the danger of blazes breaking out.
Independence Day fireworks exploding atop Mount Rubidoux, a popular hiking spot in downtown Riverside, can be traced to the 1960s. Though for the past two years, the show was at a nearby park and before that was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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In October, the Riverside City Council voted 5-2 to approve a three-year contract with a fireworks vendor for Mount Rubidoux pyrotechnics shows. Councilmembers Clarissa Cervantes and Gaby Plascencia voted no, citing safety concerns.
At the time, Riverside Fire Chief Michael Moore — who was then serving as interim city manager, spoke against fireworks being shot from the mountaintop, telling the council he was “very uncomfortable” with moving the show back to Mount Rubidoux.
Moore reminded the council and public that firefighters have, in the past, put out small fires started by fireworks fired from Mount Rubidoux.
Moore could not be reached this week, but Riverside Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Paul Seawright said officials began preparing for July 4 fireworks in February by removing vegetation and dry brush from the area.
“We always want to protect and maintain safety — fireworks present an immediate threat to that,” Seawright said.
Cervantes said Monday, June 26, that she supports fireworks shows, but believes the public should “listen to our fire professionals.”
“We are taking precautions,” Cervantes said. “We’re hopeful that those concerns were mitigated with the funds that were approved.”
City officials’ precautions focused on two major improvements on the mountain: clearing brush and repairing trails, an October city report states.
The city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department staff, Cal Fire employees and landscape contractors finished clearing brush and tree trimming, which cost the city about $70,000, parks Director Pamela Galera said.
An additional $1.5 million from Measure Z funds, a city sales tax, was set aside to improve the asphalt road leading to the launch area atop Mount Rubidoux, Galera said.
Riverside firefighters will be “strategically” placed around the area on Tuesday night, so they can put out any blazes caused by firework debris, Seawright said.
In 2021 and 2022, Fourth of July fireworks were hosted at nearby Ryan Bonaminio Park, instead of at Mount Rubidoux after the council voted to change locations because of fire concerns.
Not all were happy about the change.
At an April 2021 meeting, Councilmember Chuck Conder said the relocation was “screwing” with tradition.
Shows in 2020 were canceled because of the pandemic.
Natalie Gomez, 64, lives a few blocks from Mount Rubidoux and is a volunteer with nearby Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery, which is hosting a fundraiser offering the public a close-up view of the 9 p.m. fireworks.
“It was tradition to have it on the mountain,” Gomez said. “And we are ecstatic to have it back on the mountain.”
