Oelwein fireworks show misfires

OELWEIN - Organizers stopped Oelwein's fireworks show Saturday over safety concerns after debris and burning embers rained on the crowd.

Organizers set off only a few fireworks when they discovered the blasts were going off too close to the ground and too close to the crowd.

Oelwein Fire Chief Wally Rundle said a firefighter was monitoring the show, as usual, and told organizers to stop the show because it was too dangerous.

Kim Haar, president of the Oelwein Celebration Committee, attributed the problem to a change in the location of the show for the first time in decades.

The site was moved from the west side of a lake in the city's park to the east side because of complaints last year about embers falling on a nearby recreational vehicle park.

The grand finale was set off because it was farther away from the crowd. The rest of the show was rescheduled for Sunday.

Haar said next year's show may move to a new location.