Wauconda postpones fireworks display

WAUCONDA - The Village of Wauconda has postponed its annual fireworks display due to a heightened fire risk from the recent hot, dry weather.

Village leaders made the decision Thursday based on the launch location of the display at Cook Park, according to Chief David Dato of the Wauconda Fire Protection District. The site has homes located to the northeast and southwest.

“Our biggest concern with how dry it has been was that some ember debris would land in yards and on roofs and start a fire,” he said. “The rain we are getting now will dry up as soon as the sun is out and won’t green up anything. We need a couple of days of soaking rain to be completely safe.”

Officials discussed having the company that handles the display tilt the racks the fireworks are shot out of toward the lake, but due to the size of the set up, it could not be done, Dato added. Creating a barge-launching site on the water was also investigated, but could not be done in such a short period of time.

A rescheduled date is being determined.