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Western Pyrotechnic Winter Blast set for Feb. 12–16 at Havasu 95 Speedway; organizers outline safety and access plans
Summary
Organizers told the Lake Havasu City Parks & Recreation Advisory Board that the Western Pyrotechnic Winter Blast will run Feb. 12–16 at Havasu 95 Speedway, draw roughly 700 participants, and will be regulated by ATF and local fire and police; Sarah Park dog area will be closed during the event.
At a public hearing Jan. 27, Chip Chilowski presented an overview of the Western Pyrotechnic Winter Blast to the Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, describing safety protocols, scheduling and crowd-control plans for the event at Havasu 95 Speedway.
Chilowski said the convention-style event runs Presidents’ Weekend, Feb. 12–16, and “draws almost 700 participants.” He told the board the event includes more than 40 seminars, repeated daily, and that displays and displays’ shells are tightly regulated. Chilowski said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives inspects storage bunkers and that local fire and police are on site for inspection and standby. He said nightly displays will conclude at 10 p.m. on Sunday and weekdays, with Friday and Saturday nights finishing at about 10:30 p.m.
Chilowski described site access and parking: gates open at 3 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays and at noon on Saturdays; on busy nights access may be restricted by early closure of entrance roads and overflow into parking and BLM land. He said parking for the public is managed by DSM Events (Jim Russell) and carries a $10-per-vehicle fee. Chilowski also said the pyrotechnic compound typically hosts hundreds of RVs and that many participants stay in town for several days, which has measurable demand on local lodging and services.
Chilowski advised that Sarah Park’s dog park and nearby areas are closed in advance of the shows and that police, parks staff and WPA personnel monitor closed areas. He emphasized training and safety programs, including junior pyrotechnician classes for minors under supervision.
Board member Ashley Pasquale asked how the department will communicate closures and alternative dog-park options; Director Gabby Vera said the city’s community engagement officer is preparing social-media and outreach materials and that parks staff are coordinating brush clearance with the fire department to reduce fuel around park sites.
The public hearing was opened for comment; no members of the public spoke and the board closed the public hearing with no action required.
