Explode A Rama Saturday night at the lake

By: Sherrie Williams
With a little cooperation from the weather, the City of Iowa Park will hosts it’s sixth annual July 4, Explode A Rama event Saturday at Lake Iowa Park (Middle Lake).

Providing the winds do not exceed 30 miles per hour and rainfall doesn’t make a muddy mess of the roadway over the dam at the lake, the gates will open at 5:30 p.m. to the public. People will be allowed to ignite their own fireworks in designated areas of the lake.
Should the event be cancelled the city will notify radio and television stations.

Cost will be $5 per vehicle. The charge will help offset the cost of security provided to help make the event safer for families.

The east side of the lake will be designated for families with small children and no aerial type fireworks will be allowed.

However, all legal types of fireworks will be permitted on the west side of the lake.

Spectators not igniting fireworks are encouraged to sit in an area where fire works are not being set off. There will be bleachers available for seating on the east side of the lake.

Iowa Park city officials elected to allow fireworks to be ignited at the lake several years ago to help cut down on the amount of calls to the local fire department.

“This event is designed to relieve the burden that fireworks place on our firemen when people go out in the county and set off fireworks,” City Manager Mike Price said. “Our statistics show that the 10 plus years we have allowed people to set off fireworks, it has reduced the amount of fires to put out tremendously. It has only gotten better for those out there since six years ago the city stepped in and started controlling the popping of fireworks, traffic etc.,” he continued.

To help with the safety of those celebrating the Independence Day holiday, Iowa Park police officers, Wichita County Sheriffs deputies, Iowa Park firemen and EMTs will be stationed at the event.

A “command post” area will be designated on the west side of the lake, clearly marked, in which anyone needing first responders can go to and request help.

There will be a limit of 500 vehicles at any one time in the designated area.

The lake is located west of Iowa Park on Wigley Road with the entrance to the event being on Wigley Road and all vehicles will exit on Brandon Lane (west side of the lake.)
The lake is the only legal public property in which fireworks can be ignited in the Iowa Park area.

Residents are reminded it is illegal to ignite, pop or light fireworks anywhere inside the city limits.

The event’s title sponsor is the City of Iowa Park, cosponsors are Eddie Hill Fun Cycle, Gilmore, Inc., and the Iowa Park Evening Lions Club.