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FLORENCE -- The sky over Wilson and Pickwick lakes will be filled with fireworks, and the reservoirs will be chock-full of boats Wednesday night as residents celebrate America's birthday.

Fireworks shows at McFarland Park on Pickwick Lake and DoubleHead Resort on Wilson Lake begin at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Watching a fireworks show from a boat can be fun, but boaters must take special care to avoid accidents, said Alabama Marine Police officer Chad Dyer.

"If you are going to be out on a boat after dark, mark sure your navigation lights work before you head out. Boaters must use navigation lights whenever they are on the water at night so other boaters can see them," he said.

With a large crowd of boaters expected to gather on Pickwick Lake around McFarland Park to watch the Spirit of Freedom Celebration fireworks, Dyer said navigation lights are a must. "After the fireworks show, everyone is going to want to be leaving at the same time. If there are boats out there that do not have lights, we could have some very serious accidents."

Dyer recommends boaters viewing the fireworks require everyone on board to wear a life jacket, especially in the crowded conditions expected when the show ends.

For boaters who plan to anchor to watch the fireworks, he said it's important they attach the anchor to the front of their boat. If an anchor is attached to the rear, it can cause a boat to sink if there is a strong current in the river.

Donald Dean, a lock operator at Wilson Dam, said boaters should be patient while waiting to lock through the dam after the fireworks show.

In an effort to conserve water, the Corps of Engineers will be waiting until there are numerous boats in the lock before lifting boats from Pickwick to Wilson lakes.

He said boaters planning to use the lock must have rope for securing their vessel while locking through the dam.

Boat traffic through the lock could be down this year because of the fireworks show at DoubleHead Resort, he said.

Dean expects many boaters will stay on Wilson Lake to watch the show at DoubleHead rather than locking through the dam.

Melissa Killen, operations manager at DoubleHead, said the resort's fireworks show will be visible to boaters for several miles downstream and as far upstream on Wheeler Lake as Rogersville.

"Our fireworks go really high," she said.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@timesdaily.com.