A glitch caused the fireworks at San Diego's biggest fireworks show to ignite all at once, botching the Fourth of July pyrotechnic show for hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Fox 5 San Diego reported that viewers saw only a massive display of the Big Bay Boom shortly before 9 p.m., just before the show was to begin at the Port of San Diego.
U-T San Diego quoted the Coast Guard as saying that a premature ignition occurred on several of the barges carrying the fireworks.
"I've never seen so many fireworks go off at one time," Rich Dann, a Coast Guard search-and-rescue controller, told the newspaper. "I saw what looked like a fireworks finale."
NBC San Diego said that by 9:20 p.m., people waiting for the fireworks show were told to go home.
Whoa... that's a bummer! I remember going down to Glorietta Bay for the 4th. We'd often leave the night before to ensure we 1) could launch the boat without the whole assholes and elbows thing that goes on at the public launches, and 2) get the best spot! Right near Coronado bridge was always my favorite area.
One year we went to Mission Bay instead, and while it was fun, it just wasn't Glorietta Bay.