Fireworks displays in Huntington, Roanoke and Warren have fallen victim to the weather.

But while it's usually an unexpected downpour that fouls up the fireworks, this year it's the lack of rain.

"We're postponing the city fireworks because of the severe weather conditions and the threat that exists to the lives and property of the people of Huntington," Huntington Fire Marshal Leon Hurlburt said in announcing the decision that was made on Friday, June 29.

Roanoke Town Council President Troy Karshner echoed Hurlburt's concerns, saying that the drought conditions also prompted that council's decision on Friday.

Later in the day, officials in Warren - where firefighters had been watering the field in anticipation of the July 1 fireworks display - decided to call of the event, for now.

Dan Fisher, who chairs the Huntington display for American Legion Post 7, says he agrees with Hurlburt's decision.

"Sure, there's a regret, but we were thinking about not doing them anyway," Fisher says. "We can always shoot fireworks, but you can't replace something or somebody getting hurt."

"We waited as long as we could" to make the decision, Hurlburt says. "I just don't see it getting any better."

In Warren, officials had initially planned to go ahead with a July 1 fireworks display at Tower Park, where the Warren Volunteer Fire Department had spent the previous week spraying water on the area. With the cancellation, the will be rescheduled for an undetermined date.

A burn ban instituted June 15 by the Huntington County Commissioners remains in effect through Monday, July 2, and will likely be extended, says Hurlburt, who also serves as a county commissioner.

"It's getting very dangerous," Hurlburt says, citing the lack of rain and temperatures in excess of 95 degrees. "I've never seen it this bad before."

Hurlburt urges residents to be "very vigilant" about fire possibilities, noting that a fire in a Fort Wayne home spread quickly to the homes on either side of the original fire.

But, he adds, he's been pleased with the response so far by residents across Huntington County.

"Everybody has been very smart and used a lot of common sense," Hurlburt says.

He says it will take "a couple of days of non-stop rain" to alleviate the dangerous conditions.

Fisher says the fireworks that were to have been set off in Huntington on July 4 are now in secure storage. He's thinking about rescheduling the display for late October, but the date isn't set in stone.

"We're trying to figure out what day the community would like it," Fisher says.

Roanoke's fireworks display, which was to have taken place the evening of July 4, will instead be set off during the Roanoke Fall Festival in September.

The extremely dry conditions prompted the Roanoke Town Council to postpone the display, Karshner says.

When the council holds its regular meeting on July 2, members will decide an exact date for the September display.

Possible dates include the first night of the Fall Festival, Sept. 6, or the final day, Sept. 9.