Staff Report – The Town of Cape Charles reported no injuries from a July 4 fireworks accident in which an equipment malfunction caused a fire that abruptly brought the town’s annual fireworks show to an early end.
The town posted a message on its Facebook page explaining that about five minutes into the planned 20-minute show, a tube containing a firework mortar failed, starting a fire on the ground which quickly spread to other fireworks tubes nearby.
Most of the unexpended fireworks were stored in racks away from the immediate area of the fire.
The fire department was called and responded immediately, clearing the area and surveying it with a drone before deeming it safe for firefighters to move in and douse the fire.
The town thanked the fire department, police department, and harbor staff for their assistance in preventing the incident from growing more serious.
The Facebook post called the accident “a disappointing end to an otherwise fabulous day” and thanked spectators “for their patience and understanding, as safety must always come first.”
The message stated that planning for next year’s July 4 will begin almost immediately and “we hope to see everyone back again for what is a uniquely Cape Charles Independence Day celebration.”
