Well, despite Griffith Park, the Dodgers organization is sticking to its guns. Senior VP Howard Sunkin emailed Echo Park community groups this evening that the ball club sees no reason to cancel Friday night's fireworks -- because "The Dodgers have been hosting fireworks displays several times each season for decades." Old habits die hard.

Says Howard:

As you are aware, the Dodgers are hosting a fireworks display after the game on Friday evening. ... Our fireworks displays are conducted by professionals and in concert with the top Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials, who are on-site during the displays. Coincidentally, to prepare for Fourth of July celebrations this year, 35 fire officials from throughout the state of California will be at Dodger Stadium on Friday evening for a seminar on how to conduct proper fireworks displays as they believe the Dodgers are a model for set-up, ground display, staging and clean up for these displays.

Did he say whether this golden 35 are here to teach? Hopefully they won't be on hand to study how a second Los Angeles park goes up in flames during one of the driest drought seasons on record. It would be so awful for them to learn their lesson at the expense of our park.

Full text of Howard's communication:

As you are aware, the Dodgers are hosting a fireworks display after the game on Friday evening. The Dodgers have been hosting fireworks displays several times each season for decades. Our fireworks displays are conducted by professionals and in concert with the top Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) officials, who are on-site during the displays. Coincidentally, to prepare for Fourth of July celebrations this year, 35 fire officials from throughout the state of California will be at Dodger Stadium on Friday evening for a seminar on how to conduct proper fireworks displays as they believe the Dodgers are a model for set-up, ground display, staging and clean up for these displays.

We have been communicating with the LAFD regarding our plans for Friday night and they have informed us that at this point they see no need for us to cancel. The safety of the fans at Dodger Stadium, our neighbors, the surrounding community and the firefighters themselves is of paramount concern to us. Should the LAFD request that we cancel the fireworks on Friday due to weather concerns, or any other concern for that matter, we will happily comply. Decisions on this will be made right up until the time of the show, which is scheduled to occur about 10 minutes after the game ends and lasts 15 minutes. We will continue to keep you informed of any change in plans.

Sincerely, Howard Sunkin SVP, Public Affairs Los Angeles Dodgers