Butte County Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue waves to the crowd at Biggs' Fourth of July Parade. Photo provided by Tod Kimmelshue

BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Despite the sweltering heat, smoky skies and fireworks show cancellations throughout the county, locals wouldn’t forfeit celebrating Independence Day.

The Thompson Fire outside of Oroville caused officials to halt the fireworks show in Biggs, yet the Biggs Hometown Celebration powered through.

Residents still rose early to support the pancake breakfast and at 10:30 a.m., crowds flanked the sides of B Street for the annual parade.

Participants included locals Wheeler Ranch and Feed, Waste Management pushing garbage cans full of candy and of course, the glittering royalty of the Miss Butte County Scholarship Program.

This year, the Miss Butte County Scholarship Program asked honorary princesses Melly Spurgeon and Lincoln Xayarth to join them on the parade route. Both girls have fought harrowing battles with illness and the program wanted to crown them for their bravery and grit.

Butte County Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue waves to the crowd at Biggs' Fourth of July Parade. Photo provided by Tod Kimmelshue

Butte County Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue once again joined the party, waving from the back of his classic blue GMC, his family along for the ride.

As for the evening, festivities continued, although not as originally planned.

Making the best of a not-so-great situation, the City of Biggs closed off downtown B Street in front of the Pheasant Club, the only bar in town. The band Legend set up their sound system and Mayor Brian Bassett invited the community to come down for an old-fashioned block party.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea made a surprised appearance, speaking to the crowd, thanking them and recognizing Biggs’ patriotic spirit.

“(I) love how Biggs represents small-town America and goes all out to celebrate Independence Day and the great things about the United States,” Honea said. “The fact is, celebrating with fireworks this year wouldn’t have been the right thing to do when half the county is on fire and people are displaced.”

Many agreed with him after witnessing how fire has ravaged Butte County over the years.

Honea ended with a new “Honea-ism” regarding safety that has since taken hold and merchandise is now being sold: “Don’t be that idiot.”

For the first time, Biggs was one of the three cities in Butte County that was allowed safe and sane fireworks. Of course, the community didn’t hold back, celebrating with purchased legal fireworks.

Mayor Basset, who organizes the fireworks show, said that the company will hold the purchased fireworks for next year’s event.

Bassett told the Herald that as Biggs approaches Independence Day 2025, community event organizers and the city might reevaluate how they would like to celebrate since the block party seemed to be a hit. Locals brought their safe and sane fireworks and set them off in the streets.

The same could not be said for everyone.

Reports say that the Fourth of July celebrations in neighboring Gridley caused noise that one observer compared to a “warzone.” Illegal fireworks, large bomb-sounding blasts, gunshots and more filled the night.