116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Most of Coralville's firework finale accidentally set off early; watch video
Jul. 5, 2013 11:51 am
CORALVILLE - Fire officials here say most of last night's fireworks display was accidentally set off in the first minute.
A computer glitch caused 70 percent to 75 percent of the display to go off, fire prevention officer Orey Schwitzer said.
"It was kind of reverse this year," said City Administrator Kelly Hayworth. The show was still enjoyable, it just "started with a bang," Hayworth said.
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Fire officials say they're looking into the computer glitch to ensure it doesn't happen again next year.
"I know this has happened (in other places before)," Schwitzer said.
No one was injured during the explosion of fireworks. Schwitzer was one of only two firefighters allowed inside a 300-foot perimeter.
During the show, the Fire Department was dispatched to a nearby chemical leak, which was unrelated to the malfunction.
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A still image from the Coralville firework display on July, 4 2013. (Melissa Welander)