San Diego Bay Fireworks Botched - Glorietta Bay Display Performs as Scheduled

At 8:55pm, there was a sudden burst of fireworks at multiple locations along the San Diego bay.  We happened to be at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course and saw the pre-mature burst over Ferry Landing across the island.  At first, we thought the Coronado barge in front of the Shores was malfunctioning since no fireworks were sent off, but as it turns out, the only fireworks that performed as scheduled were from the golf course near the Coronado Yacht Club and in front of the Shores.  The Big Bay Boom fireworks had a technical error that launched them all at the same time.

The Glorietta Bay fireworks that went as planned were managed by Pyro Spectaculars - kudos to them for putting on a wonderful show with no technical difficulties.

Sorry to those of you at Coronado Ferry Landing and along the San Diego Bay.

Update:  A video of the botched fireworks has been added below and explanation from the Port of San Diego.

PORT OF SAN DIEGO:  Technical Problem Caused Show to Execute in 15 Seconds

Approximately 5 minutes before the show was to start, a signal was sent to the barges that would set the timing for the rest of the show after the introduction.  There were a number of preliminary test signals sent hours and minutes leading up to the show.  All these signals tested properly according to Garden State Fireworks, the fireworks company that provides the show. 

The Garden State Fireworks team will be working throughout the night to determine what technical problem caused the entire show to be launched in about 15 seconds. 

We apologize for the brevity of the show and the technical difficulties. 

More information at their website.

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Tags: community, holiday


Staff
Comment by Anne Covington Morse on July 4, 2012 at 10:24pm

Thank you for the quick information! Luckily, we were at the golf course too, but we saw the short (and beautiful... we'll probably never see 20 minutes of fireworks set off in 3 seconds again, haha) display off in the distance and wondered what had happened! I couldn't find any information online, and it wasn't until we got home and turned on the 10 o'clock news that we learned what had happened. So disappointing for everyone who had waited so long to see the Big Bay Show.

Comment by Steve Adams on July 4, 2012 at 10:43pm

Even though I missed the Glorietta Bay display, I did get to watch 9 seconds of intense fireworks. I will always remember the Big Bay Bust.

Comment by TR on July 5, 2012 at 2:11am

Were these signals sent wirelessly ? If so is there a hacker that would like to take credit?

Comment by Surf's Up Studios, Coronado on July 5, 2012 at 10:59am

Here's the CNN Report we filed on the Fireworks show and the 2012 Coronado July 4th Parade: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-804068

Comment by Doug Ewen on July 7, 2012 at 5:32pm

Seems to me the same thing happened in Glorietta Bay a number of years ago. The "old timers" might remember that one!

Comment by Surf's Up Studios, Coronado on July 8, 2012 at 1:12pm

Check out the slow motion video of the San Diego Big Bay Boom 2012:  http://youtube.com/surfsupstudios

Comment by Christine Duryea on July 9, 2012 at 3:43pm
At 8:55 when they Bomb went off knowing down a picture off my wall and my white Persuian Cat almost hit the ceiling I knew something was wrong. I live 3 houses from the bay. Never heard such an exploring ever.
Comment by Kevin Queen on July 9, 2012 at 5:36pm

Yeah Doug, I remember the fireworks guys diving off the barge into Glorietta Bay after the fireworks started exploding all over the place and I beleive it was in the early 70's. I'm now up on the bay-side of town so Ferry Park has been my place to take the grandkids, but after this years show I'm going to be nostalgic and start going back to the golf course and watch the Coronado fireworks show like I did when I was a kid. The only thing still missing is the UDT/SEAL shows we used to have in the bay after the parade!!

Comment by eCoronado on July 13, 2012 at 1:00pm

eCoronado.com has been contacted by Pyro Spectaculars that were in charge of the Coronado fireworks at Glorietta Bay.  They wanted to stress that their fireworks on the barge near the Coronado Yacht Club performed perfectly.  We have updated the post to include:

The Glorietta Bay fireworks that went as planned were managed by Pyro Spectaculars - kudos to them for putting on a wonderful show with no technical difficulties.

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