Fourth of July revelers brave record-setting temperatures

SHOREWOOD -- It was a hot, muggy, stick Fourth of July holiday -- the hottest Fourth of July in Milwaukee, according to FOX6 meteorologists. All of southeastern Wisconsin is now under an excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service until Friday, July 6th at 10:00 p.m. Additionally, Milwaukee set a record this Fourth of July -- hitting 102 degrees.

Some wouldn't let the relentless heat Wednesday keep them from celebrating Independence Day with friends and family.

Mike Souer said he would never miss the Shorewood Fourth of July fireworks display, but this year, he didn't have a choice. Due to the high heat and dry conditions, Shorewood officials postponed their fireworks show to a later date (to be determined).

The extreme heat kept firefighters busy near Oakland Avenue Wednesday afternoon.

"We had a few heat-related emergencies already today," one fire official told FOX6 News.

At the Greendale Lions Club Independence Day Picnic, few really wanted to be in the heat for long. Many rested underneath the tent, shielded from the hot sun.

"This has been a bit of a damper today," one picnic-goer said.

Fireworks were the main concern for Greendale officials and officials in several communities Wednesday. Some, like Elm Grove and Shorewood had already called off their fireworks displays due to the weather.

"Really, this year specifically with the dry conditions, we're really hoping everyone stays away and waits for the professionals," one fire official said.

The fear is embers from the display sparking a fire.

In Brown Deer, crews watered down the fireworks launch site all day.

In Shorewood, one official told FOX6 News he's been involved with the fireworks display for 25 years, and this year is the first he's had to cancel a show due to dry conditions.

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