After concerns over weather led officials to cancel a Fourth of July fireworks show in Highlands Ranch, the display is now rescheduled for Dec. 16, according to Douglas County.

Fireworks are planned to launch at Highland Heritage Regional Park, but officials are asking the public to watch the show at other locations.

“These are going to be so high and so bright that you’re going to be able to see them from your house in Highlands Ranch,” said Wendy Holmes, spokesperson for Douglas County.

Fireworks shows also took place in Douglas County in mid-December in 2021, when the fireworks sites at Rueter-Hess Reservoir and Griggs Road in the Highlands Ranch area both resulted in brush fires, according to a post on Twitter from South Metro Fire Rescue at the time.

“(South Metro Fire) was on site … when they occurred and additional resources were called to help,” the post says. “No injuries occurred and no structures were threatened.”

Officials put on fireworks shows in December 2021 because of delays in the preceding months due to concerns about dryness, Holmes said.

Asked about fireworks and fire risk, the county pointed to its approval process for professional firework displays in unincorporated Douglas County.

Unincorporated areas, like Highlands Ranch, are parts of the county that sit outside of corporated cities and towns.

“The following, sequential process is shared to ensure you are aware of all that must occur to ensure the highest level of safety by anyone producing a professional fireworks display in Douglas County,” the county’s website says.

Among other steps, that process includes:

• A professional “condition analysis” and a meeting a week before the display to determine whether it’s safe to proceed as planned. County commissioners will have a discussion with fire protection agencies and law enforcement to gather input on current launch conditions. Based on this meeting, a decision will be made to proceed or cancel.

• A “site inspection” prior to the day of the event, along with approval from the fire protection agency. The process can involve “site improvements” to mitigate risk based on recommendations and conditions — that can include mowing and trenching.

• A fire protection personnel inspection on the day of the event. The process takes into account fire restrictions and a “site security” review.

• And a final decision, a “go / no go” for the event.

Information about current fire restrictions in Douglas County, as determined by the sheriff’s office, is available at the county Office of Emergency Management’s webpage at tinyurl.com/DouglasFireRestriction.

In the interest of public safety, Douglas County law enforcement asks the public to plan ahead and honor road closures as well as the “No Parking” signs near the launch site, the county’s website says.