With the demise of Vancouver's 50-year-old fireworks celebration, Fairview leaders suspect their annual event will get a big boost this year.
Last year, more than 14,000 people showed up to watch Fairview's Fourth of July fireworks display. This year, Fairview Police Chief Ken Johnson says, Fairview planners anticipate an increase of 20 percent or more spectators.
"There are obviously going to be people displaced," Johnson said. "That was a huge program. With it not in existence, they're going to go somewhere. (Ours is) one of the logical places."
Because Fairview's police staff is strapped — at any given time, the city has only one officer on patrol, and voters turned down a recent levy to hire more cops — Johnson says he has been meeting with representatives of Metro at Blue Lake Park, where the event takes place, to plan for security.
Traffic control alone required 18 officers last year. Fairview employs 14, including Johnson. Johnson said he is sending letters to other agencies asking for help patrolling the event. He also is working with Metro to determine how many people the park can accommodate.
Planners canceled Vancouver's iconic event after they lost their primary financial backer. Last year, Bomber Brothers fireworks of Vancouver contributed about $285,000 toward the $450,000 event.