It’s been billed as one of the greatest fireworks shows in all of Southern California — Big Bear Lake’s Fireworks Spectacular — and some 80,000 people are expected to crowd mountain roads to see it.
“We’re already starting to experience some of the traffic coming up here already,” said Patrick Graham, who owns Mr. P’s Affordable Furniture in Running Springs off Highway 18.
"It’s always good for business which is an upswing in the economy," Graham said.
But with the celebrations ahead, local law enforcement agencies are once again reminding visitors about the dos and don’t’s of the holiday weekend.
“We want to make sure that whoever comes up the mountain, goes back safely in one piece,” said John Quitero from the California Highway Patrol, who joined other agencies to promote safety over the Independence Day weekend.
Big Bear Lake has seen its fair share of forest fires — for the last two weeks the Lake Fire had been threatening the mountain resort town. Now, local firefighters are reminding visitors that no fireworks of any kind are allowed on the mountain — except, of course, for Saturday night’s professional show.
The Clark Family came up from Palm Springs to get away from the heat.
"It will be packed, we’ve heard," said patriarch Michael Clark. "It’s the first time we’ve been up here for Fourth of July, we’ll have the boat out on the water enjoying things."
Clark’s wife Darcy says she’s concerned about illegal fireworks now that she’s seen just how low Big Bear Lake appears
"This is the lowest I’ve ever seen it," she said. "I’ve been coming up here all my life and I’ve never seen it this low.”
Firefighters say they have a no-tolerance policy for anyone trying to use even the slightest sparkler. SB County Fire Marshall Michael Horton says the penalty could be severe.
“In the likely even there’s a fire or injury involved by the use of fireworks, the responsible person will be charged accordingly and held liable for damages,” he said.
To ease traffic, CHP says they’ve started a new traffic flow plan for the night of the fireworks: drivers will only be allowed to make right-hand turns onto Highway 18 from 9 p.m. to midnight as they leave the event.
