Normal hours of operation for the firepots at the Keeper of the Plains have been suspended temporarily while City workers fine-tune the automated safety system.

The pyrotechnic designer of the facility is scheduled to return to Wichita this week to resolve various issues that have arisen in routine evaluations of the gas-fired operation.

Certification of the facility by national testing authorities depends on the full resolution of automated safety issues, according to Ed Martin, City of Wichita Building Services Manager.

“The firepots are operated by a computerized system with numerous built-in safety devices,” Martin said. “It has never been fully operation, and our national certification is dependent on all safety features being operational.”

Continue manual operation would not be in compliance with the certification requirements, according to Martin.

“We're debugging the problems with the computerized operation, and full utility of the system is expected as soon as system designer returns this week with the intent to resolve the issue,” Martin said.

Meanwhile, observers may notice intermittent operation of the firepots as testing continues.

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