Two communities in Massachusetts have canceled their Fourth of July festivities for reasons that include staffing shortages, officials said.
The Rutland fire and police department released a statement along with the 4th of July Committee on Wednesday about the cancellation of the town’s fireworks, parade, and concert. Officials said the decision was not made for financial reasons.
“The decision to cancel was not made lightly. Although the 4th of July Committee successfully raised the funds needed for the event, the celebration cannot take place without adequate public safety staffing. Police, fire, and EMS personnel are essential to ensure the safety of attendees, manage traffic, and maintain emergency response coverage throughout the town,” the town said. “Due to anticipated staffing limitations, our Police and Fire Chiefs have determined that they cannot safely support both the event and routine emergency services at the same time.”…