Some US cities have replaced fireworks with drone shows to reduce wildfires and noise pollution

• Some US cities have replaced fireworks with light shows performed by drones.
• Cities in California and Colorado have implemented drones in their Fourth of July festivities.

Some US cities in states like California and Colorado have replaced fireworks with light shows performed by drones for Fourth of July.

In San Diego, hundreds of drones are set to replace Tuesday's firework shows throughout Ocean Beach and La Jolla.

Lakewood, Boulder, and Castle Rock have opted for drone shows following the switch from other surrounding cities in Colorado last year.

Some fireworks shows were canceled this year. For example in California, a new Los Angeles County regulation requires all firework shows to have a permit from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, and some shows had to be canceled as a result.

Similarly in the San Francisco Bay Area, fire departments have warned against fireworks, and more cities have switched to hiring light show professionals and entertainment companies dedicated to providing these experiences.

Aside from noise pollution, fireworks are a leading cause of wildfires in many dry cities. Washington State's Department of Natural Resources tweeted that already this week, six wildfires occurred in the Pacific Cascade Region as a result of fireworks.

In recent years, drone shows have become more prevalent in large performances, such as the Coachella music festival and the Super Bowl halftime show.