Colfax fireworks dispute likely over

The Colfax sky will likely be lit up July 3 with sparkles and streams of light from fireworks in honor of Independence Day.Nearly a week after Union Pacific Railroad representatives banned the July 3 launching of fireworks from the railroad facility near the Colfax Depot, officials from the Omaha, Neb.-based railroad company said they are confident the issues will be worked out. Union Pacific officials reconsidered their June 14 decision after receiving letters from city officials and Colfax Pride Chairman Ken Delfino. Colfax Pride formed in April to organize the annual Independence Day celebrations. Longtime Independence Day organizer Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce, losing about $2,000 in last year's celebration, relinquished its role in spearheading the event.Delfino, who wrote two letters to Union Pacific President/Chief Executive Officer James Young asking that the company reverse its decision and allow the fireworks on Union Pacific property, said the news was a big relief."They respect tradition and history," said Delfino of Union Pacific. Delfino who now wants to make this year's fireworks display the best show ever, met Wednesday with Colfax City Manager Bob Perrault and Union Pacific special representative Wayne Horiuchi to discuss insurance coverage and safety issues. Horiuchi received copies of insurance policies at the meeting for review.On Tuesday, Sacramento-based Horiuchi said he believes the issue will be worked out. "I'm confident we can come up with some kind of agreement," Horiuchi said. "It's all doable." On Tuesday, Perrault, who wrote a letter to Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, in support of Colfax Pride, said he believes the insurance issues will be satisfactory to Union Pacific officials and that the fireworks will go ahead as originally planned. Union Pacific spokesman John Bromley on Tuesday said his company reconsidered reversing its fireworks ban after learning more about the event. "We agreed to meet with the city to discuss those issues," Bromley said, referring to insurance coverage and safety precautions. "We want to work with Colfax and do what we can do to help them." Last week, Union Pacific officials said they were not aware that fireworks had been shot from Union Pacific property for the past two decades. (In a clarification this week, Delfino said a longtime resident told him the annual event started in 1933.) Battalion Chief Jeff Brand of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said he would approve the fireworks at the railroad yard location once all the permit requirements are met. That has not been a problem in years past, he added. So far, about $10,000 for the Independence Day celebration has been raised, said Jim Bowers, a T-shirt shop owner and Colfax Pride member. The goal, he said, is to raise $18,000. Colfax Pride recently gave a $3,500 deposit to Pyrospectaculars of Rocklin, the company scheduled to shoot the July 3 fireworks. The public fireworks display, if approved, will be the only legal fireworks in Colfax, Brand noted.