In just one year’s time, Durango’s Fourth of July drone show has plummeted in popularity from a well-received novelty with drones snapping into place to spell “Durango” to a thumbs-down dud. A new crowd of haters did not hold back on social media, unimpressed with the drones’ lack of explosive power.
Of course, the decision for the drone show is based on fire safety. With a drone show, firefighters don’t have to douse small fires like a game of whack-a-mole.
Still, Durango residents were left with fireworks envy. Drone-watchers looked longingly in other directions toward Bayfield, Mancos, Towaoc, Dove Creek and Cortez, where not only the fireworks stunned, but gas bombs were let loose. Yes, that’s right. Also known by another incendiary name – super nukes. If close enough, the boom from that ground-level explosion with its orange flames reverberates through you, pin-balling around internal organs.
According to drone haters, that’s the proper way to celebrate Independence Day.
Let freedom ring.
In Mancos, watchers got that retro Fourth feeling, with a cloud of smoke hovering at the intersection of Highway 160 and Main Street. Also, an aerial failed to launch and blew up on the ground. More visually notable and exciting than drones forming a flag.
In Bayfield, the drone on duty was not meant to entertain but identify hot spots that ignited and spread. But the small fires were nothing that firefighters and residents handy with chain saws couldn’t handle.
With fireworks filling skies over neighboring communities, Durangoans took to socials to share their grave disappointment in the drone show. What do you expect for $45,000? Well, drone-watchers wanted more.
Drones did big things in other places, just not here. North Richland Hills, Texas, near Dallas, set a Guinness World record for “largest aerial sentence formed by multi-roto/drones” with 1,002 drones creating standout moments in American history
In the Southwest, the wow factor has been reduced to a whimper. Drones just can’t measure up to good old-fashioned explosions.
But as grownups griped, the little ones – ages 3, 4 and 5 – were dazzled by the drones. Too bad they couldn’t share their awe publicly, being too young for social media accounts.
The drone show was the brainchild of Pixis Drones out of Alexandria, Virginia. Here’s a direct message to the drone choreographer: It’s safe to come out now. A week has gone by; people are moving on. No doubt, it was a tough crowd. Keep creating. Wipe away those tears. You know the saying, haters gonna hate. Hold your head high.
Durango spokesperson Tom Sluis said he posted an image on Facebook of people watching the drone show and the page received 10,000 views! This was also the origin of the firestorm of abysmal reviews. Harsh with some comparing love for country with explosives. One Instagram post from Bayfield said: “The real Americans can keep coming to Bayfield to celebrate Independence Day the way it should be. Explosives.”
We see new city mottos coming soon. “Home of the super nuke” and “no wussy drones here.”
The Durango Fire Protection District passed on the responsibility of shooting off fireworks after 2019 because of liability and the ever-increasing dryness. As reported in Action Line in The Durango Herald on July 3, from 2016 to 2021, fireworks were scheduled and canceled four times. The show went on only in 2016 and 2019.
It’s too early to know which direction Durango will go in 2024 – dressed-up drone show or fireworks. We expect the city will err on the side of safety, meaning no fireworks.
Next year, convoys will head toward Cortez, which ramped up its show with a StarFire Controller. Fireworks were wired to a cue board and a scripted show synced to music. More than 1,000 fireworks were shot along with “aerial cakes,” prepackaged multi-shot fireworks, at a cost of about $30,000.
Cortez had an ideal staging area in Parque de Vida. As Durango firefighters shied away from fireworks, Cortez Fire Protection District not only took on the responsibility, but some staff members are working toward their display operator’s license.
In the short evolution of drones, our expectations have become sky high. Maybe that’s fitting for a Happy Birthday, America, celebration – more, longer, louder. Safety comes fourth.
We do, though, have a winning idea. Drones that drop gas bombs! Now that would be something for everyone.
