Professional fireworks displays in Santa Fe are still planned for Independence Day, even though officials are discouraging use of any other incendiary celebrations.

Santa Fe Fire Chief Barbara Salas said firefighters will be on hand at the Santa Fe High School show and will wet down surrounding fields with fire hoses as a precaution before the event begins.

"That is the only one we can control, so we want to get people to that one because it is licensed and insured," she said. "We want everyone to go to the public display, and we want no one to do private fireworks."

Salas said she and other city officials talked about canceling the show, which is run by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Fe using about $30,000 of public funds. They decided, however, that taking that action would compel people to set off fireworks at home.

"The big thing is that we are just trying to encourage people not to use fireworks," she said.

Other public officials, including Gov. Susana Martinez and Santa Fe County Fire Chief Dave Sperling, delivered similar messages, asking people to voluntarily refrain from do-it-yourself fireworks in the interest of protecting the community.

The Club at Las Campanas planned a Fourth of July show, but called it off last week after members suggested it was not appropriate, according to membership director Pam Franko.

The New Mexican