Because the surrounding area was ravaged by wildfires and is currently experiencing a dry season, communities along Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada have decided against holding fireworks displays for Independence Day . Instead, they have opted to use drones to minimize the risk of wildfires.
Drone shows are postulated as an alternative to shows in the night sky. they do not generate odors, nor do they bother with noise or flashes of light. And since they are still flammable and explosive objects, they carry less chance of a failure starting a fire.
Fireworks take a step back in favor of drones
The situation led organizers to use drones to create light displays at Kings Beach on Lake Tahoe on Sunday, July 3, and to repeat the show in Tahoe City on Monday night, July 4. However, strong winds in the area forced planners to postpone both events.
In a statement announcing that the drone displays were scheduled for Labor Day in September, Tony Karwowski of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association said the decision to cancel the displays was not easy. He noted that the forecasted wind conditions had not changed in recent days . Reports indicated a 98% probability that the drones would be unable to fly over the lake within safe operating limits. The drone display at Incline Village, on the lake's north shore, is still planned. The display's location at the local high school's baseball fields is less exposed to the wind gusts.
Karwowski wanted to celebrate Independence Day with light shows, as she believes they remain important to her community. Meanwhile, Katie Biggers, executive director of the Tahoe Town Center Partnership, pointed out that fireworks come with their own list of known environmental impacts.
It's not like drone shows are anything new, either. They are widely used in China and Japan, and have already had shows in the United States. Drone light shows are postulated as a new business sector due to the possibilities they offer for all kinds of situations, including putting a QR code in the sky.
Source: Digital Trends
