HFD turns on the water for fun in the sun on July 4

The summer has brought the Mat-Su Borough near-record heat and continued dry conditions, and with those conditions, one local community was aware that fireworks might not be possible to celebrate the 4th of July.

“We couldn’t have fireworks, but kids need to have fun, so we had waterworks,” said Houston Fire Department Chief Christian Hartley.

The City of Houston Fire Department hosted “Water Fun to Enjoy the Sun.” The water-soaked fun brought out kids of all ages to revel in the chance to toss water balloons, fire off super-soakers, and run through sprinklers.

Even through overcast skies and a slight dip in the temperatures, families showed up to chill out. For some, it was a much needed reprieve from the heat and a chance for kids to play and have fun.

And it wasn’t just the kids who were enjoying the water fun. More than a few parents and even a few grandparents braved the torrent of squirt guns and balloons, and more than a few were perhaps taking a few shots at the kids.

“The parents came out because they wanted to play, too,” laughed parent Yvonne Stiller in between water shots with her children.

Local radio station 107.1 provided a patriotic musical backdrop to the fun while Stepping Stones Inflatables provided slides that were transformed into waterslides, and the HFD and the HFD Auxillary provided hundreds of water balloons and fill stations for the assorted squirt guns and super-soakers on hand for the kids to use.

HFD had previously hosted a water event during the 2019 Independence Day when similar conditions cancelled that year’s fireworks throughout the Borough, and as the dry conditions persisted this year, it became obvious that fireworks may be called off again. HFD had a back-up plan for another water event and with the City of Houston’s support, the waterworks event was a go.

“This is a great thing, an awesome thing they’ve done,” said Stiller about the event.

The event was sponsored by local businesses Gorilla Fireworks, Alaska Tax Lady, and True Colors Painting.

“We had a couple hundred people over the 3 hours with no injuries, proving it was a safe alternative to fireworks,” reflected Chief Hartley after the water event.

If the smiles and laughter seen among the attendees was any indication, it seems the HFD had a hit on their hands. Kids and parents, and even the volunteers had nothing but positive things to say about the waterworks event.

“I love when we get together as a community and have fun,” summed up Chief Hartley.

“Our fire department will always do what we can to make that happen.”