Should Fort Worth replace July 4th fireworks with a drone show? Some say yes.

As Americans get ready to shoot their patriotic fervor into the sky this Independence Day, many cities across the country are adding drones to their traditional fireworks celebrations.

Irving will launch 525 drones into the sky July 3 as the opening act before a nearly 20-minute fireworks display as part of its “Sparks and Stripes” celebration.

The University of Texas at Austin used pyrotechnic drones to form the shape of a longhorn to mark the school’s entrance into the Southeastern Conference.

And some in Fort Worth have advocated for doing away with fireworks all together and putting on a drone show over the Trinity River instead.

The Tarrant Regional Water District produces the annual Fort Worth Fourth event. Last August, it heard from several residents who urged a fireworks-free Fourth.

One of them was Cindy Boling, president of the Central Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association, who said drones offer a variety of possibilities that you can’t get with fireworks, and require less resources to keep the public safe.

Having a drone-only July 4th celebration would also set an example by moving away from fireworks, which can cause damage to neighborhoods when used illegally, Boling said.

However, the water district is sticking to its incendiary commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — at least for now.

[MORE: Where to see free fireworks shows in Fort Worth area]

The water district had already made agreements months ago to purchase fireworks for this year’s festivities, said Darrell Beason, the district’s chief operations officer, speaking at a March board meeting.

“We’re contractually obligated because of the lead time of bringing those fireworks into the country,” Beason said.

There’s also the additional cost.

Completely replacing the fireworks with drones would cost the district around $306,000 for a 22- to 25-minute show, Beason said.

By comparison, a 30-minute firework show costs around $75,000, he said.

The development of Panther Island along the river could play a role in the district using more drones in future July 4th celebrations.

Fireworks require a buffer zone to be launched safely. As development continues on the future island just north of downtown, that zone will probably shrink.

The district did look at possibly incorporating fireworks into this year’s show but opted against it.

“We will continue to evaluate the use of drones in future Fort Worth Fourth events,” district spokesperson Chad Lorance said in an email to the Star-Telegram.

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