There will be no fireworks this year at downtown Tempe's annual New Year's Eve event because of dryness on "A" Mountain.

The announcement came late last week from Kate Borders, the executive director and president of the Downtown Tempe Authority, which promotes the Mill Avenue event.

"It has been brought to our attention that Hayden Butte has more dry brush this year than previous years," Borders wrote in a letter to the mayor and council members. "With these circumstances, it has been decided that it is unsafe to launch fireworks from the top of A Mountain."

Borders told The Arizona Republic she and the city of Tempe could not find an alternative location.

She noted the recent removal of structures previously used to launch fireworks also factored into the decision.

"We would never want to engage in an activity that disrespects the mountain and/or endanger the preserve," Borders wrote.

The city could consider different fireworks locations in future years.

"We could resume New Year's Eve fireworks at one of these other locations in the future but health and safety for our whole community and our environment has to come first," Interim Assistant Fire Chief Andrea Glass said in a statement.

A notice posted on the Downtown Tempe Authority's website said that "while there will be no fireworks display at midnight, the originally planned festivities at venues along Mill Avenue will continue as planned."

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