So what happened? We live downtown & walked to see the fireworks...we do this every year. Show was short & uneventful, but seemed like show ended on the bridge instead of the air. Anyone see exactly what happened?
Quote from: Michael71 on July 04, 2009, 10:00:41 PM
So what happened? We live downtown & walked to see the fireworks...we do this every year. Show was short & uneventful, but seemed like show ended on the bridge instead of the air. Anyone see exactly what happened?
It probably had something to do with the lightning moving this way.
The whole thing just blew at once at the west end of the bridge. it was pretty obvious there was an explosion and we packed up right after I stopped shooting, everyone else just sat there. I go, 'That was an accident.' And folk just sat there like they missed the whole explosion. Amazing. Oh look, exclusive video:
They started very early, like 8:45 (official mailer said 9:30 start time). KJRH.com says a trailer blew up. Sucks, we deserve a display. Thankfully, no one is hurt.
http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Explosion-at-Freedomfest-haults-fireworks-display/suKGczDj8EaLs32AexvZEw.cspx?rss=701
Really was disappointing, but glad no one got hurt. I wish they would have explained the situation to the people in the parks. We were over at riverwest festival park and I assumed something went wrong, but others were unsure and let me tell you there were some angry people out there who had been sitting for hours to get to see 15 minutes of fireworks and no finale. One of the announcers at the amphitheater acted like nothing went wrong and that, that was it. It was especially embarrassing because all the motorcyclists that were in town came down together at the park and I can only imagine they were disappointed. Even worse however has to be to the citizens who gave so generously to make the show go on this year after many sponsors dropped out due to the economy. I know a group of local lawyers and justices gave $11,000 for the finale, which didn't happen. Although it was an accident I believe the fireworks company needs to give at least half of the money back, especially to those that collected and gave out of there own pockets. If they don't I seriously doubt citizens like these will want to continue to support what has been such a wonderful event every year.
This is why you don't have the fireworks done by the lowest bidder. We were right on the river watching, and there was a fire burning for a while on the trailer after one of the fireworks went off prematurely just feet above the trailer. The final explosion sent a lot of the works into the river, and all directions.
edit to add that the reason it started early was to avoid getting rained on.
Quote from: Know Nothing on July 04, 2009, 10:30:28 PM
The whole thing just blew at once at the west end of the bridge. it was pretty obvious there was an explosion and we packed up right after I stopped shooting, everyone else just sat there. I go, 'That was an accident.' And folk just sat there like they missed the whole explosion. Amazing. Oh look, exclusive video:
You were right on, that was an accident.
Quote from: Know Nothing on July 04, 2009, 10:30:28 PM
The whole thing just blew at once at the west end of the bridge. it was pretty obvious there was an explosion and we packed up right after I stopped shooting, everyone else just sat there. I go, 'That was an accident.' And folk just sat there like they missed the whole explosion. Amazing. Oh look, exclusive video:
Holy Cow! Great reporting, Knows Something!
Your avatar does not match your voice.
Quote from: FOTD on July 05, 2009, 01:02:32 AM
Holy Cow! Great reporting, Knows Something!
Your avatar does not match your voice.
For the record, that was ME saying 'change my diaper.' Being eye-level with the pavement, and reckoning the range of any of those mortars, it was a safety issue to vacate the area. Any one of those mortars could have gone skipping right down range and into the crowd.
My friend and I arrived at another friend's condo at Liberty Tower about 9:20 only to find out we'd missed everything. Did any news outlet bother getting the word out it was going to start earlier? It was still entertaining watching all the various neighborhood fireworks with lightning as a back-drop from the 17th floor.
Quote from: Conan71 on July 05, 2009, 11:08:57 AM
My friend and I arrived at another friend's condo at Liberty Tower about 9:20 only to find out we'd missed everything. Did any news outlet bother getting the word out it was going to start earlier? It was still entertaining watching all the various neighborhood fireworks with lightning as a back-drop from the 17th floor.
I obviously need better hooked up friends. The best I can do altitude-wise is the 4 story garage which my brother has access to just behind the YMCA building downtown.
Quote from: Conan71 on July 05, 2009, 11:08:57 AM
My friend and I arrived at another friend's condo at Liberty Tower about 9:20 only to find out we'd missed everything. Did any news outlet bother getting the word out it was going to start earlier? It was still entertaining watching all the various neighborhood fireworks with lightning as a back-drop from the 17th floor.
From what I understand, the change in start time was a last minute decision to get it done before a possible thunderstorm came through.
Today's TV reports say that River Parks will not pay for the portion of the program that was cancelled, and the pyrotechnics company has been cooperative so far. So maybe the money can be banked and saved for next year. I understand how many were disappointed, but sh*t happens.
Apparently according to Fox 23 news, Matt Meyer, River Parks Director, has said they will not be using A&M pyrotechnics, the company that put on this years show, next year. Hopefully they will go back to using Western Enterprises that has done the show every other year. They always did a great job.
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Fireworks-Fizzle/0RPByNWUS0-lNdTGNzfAOQ.cspx
Quote from: forevertulsa89 on July 05, 2009, 10:00:30 PM
Apparently according to Fox 23 news, Matt Meyer, River Parks Director, has said they will not be using A&M pyrotechnics, the company that put on this years show, next year. Hopefully they will go back to using Western Enterprises that has done the show every other year. They always did a great job.
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Fireworks-Fizzle/0RPByNWUS0-lNdTGNzfAOQ.cspx
Its got to be a comfort to know the same bidding process is being used to select those who will be rehabilitating our roads and bridges.
We were there. Here is video from my girlfriend's camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoSthLs2CX8
July 4th this year seemed very mundane. I drove by fireworks stands many times per day and usually saw 2-3 cars there if I was lucky. The hype that usually comes with the fireworks show wasn't there this year.
The show was disappointing from the beginning. We heard no announcement of the show starting early at Riverwest Festival Park (where the sound stage was). We had to rush to our spot to see the early fireworks and didn't get to enjoy at least 4-5 minutes of the beginning...and then this happened. We sat there for a good 30+ minutes and no announcement was made neither from the Riverwest side nor the east end of the 21st street bridge at that sound stage. We were listening to the police scanners on my iPhone after it happened and they said they were no longer shooting fireworks, and it was only then that it was made clear no more fireworks would be shot off. People just kinda started leaving though right after the fireworks stopped. Everyone was upset. There were people there many hours prior to the fireworks only to be given half of their show.
We are Tulsa and can do so much better than this. ONEOK was basically the only sponsor for the city's event which explains the lack of hype. And from what I heard, our fireworks show went to the first bidder. Whoever has done the previous fireworks shows for Tulsa needs to be the exclusive provider. I've enjoyed their shows each year for the past several years.
I too hope they save the money that they are not spending on this years show as a result and spend it on making next years show better.
I would also like to add that although the show started 30 minutes early at 9PM to avoid the storms, we stayed in the area of Riverwest until about 10:30 PM. At about 11:10 PM was when it started sprinkling at the Braum's on 71st between Memorial and Sheridan. There was no need to start the show early.
Quote from: TurismoDreamin on July 05, 2009, 11:56:45 PM
I would also like to add that although the show started 30 minutes early at 9PM to avoid the storms, we stayed in the area of Riverwest until about 10:30 PM. At about 11:10 PM was when it started sprinkling at the Braum's on 71st between Memorial and Sheridan. There was no need to start the show early.
There was a lot of lightning visible to the north by 9:30.
The major danger is lightning, not rain. Think about it. Lightning hits the trailer and blammo, the whole thing goes up at once, it doesn't just catch on fire. Lightning pretty regularly strikes far from the parent storm, so I think it was a good call to start early.
Quote from: nathanm on July 06, 2009, 01:12:06 AM
There was a lot of lightning visible to the north by 9:30.
The major danger is lightning, not rain. Think about it. Lightning hits the trailer and blammo, the whole thing goes up at once, it doesn't just catch on fire. Lightning pretty regularly strikes far from the parent storm, so I think it was a good call to start early.
Exactly. Lightning can precede a strong storm in some cases by up to two hours before the storm reaches you. That's why at the first visible lightning strike, golf courses close down. And then you add sending an aerial mortar as essentially a lightning rod, and you have trouble.
Clearly there was no emergency evacuation plan and the planners were absolutely caught with their pants down. They start the show early because they are afraid a possible lightning strike will cause the explosives to go haywire, but a fire actually starts and they just let everyone hang around the blast area? Really?
The show started early because of wind, is my guess. Remember the Oktoberfest disaster?
Heaven help us if there is an emergency during any of our other events. The organizers would be the first ones out.
Turismo got better video. sorry KN.
Quote from: sgrizzle on July 06, 2009, 07:16:00 AM
Turismo got better video. sorry KN.
Absolutely, no doubt! My goal was to try to get under the really big ones, to the point where some of the shoots would go overhead so I had a really really tight shot. By the time T's video ends we were already packed up and leaving. I tried to let as many people know on the way out that the show was over, and a few listened but most sat there all glazed eyed, maybe it sunk in after five, ten minutes.
That whole thing was shoddy. It may have been my last year for the river on the 4th.
I had a sense of foreboding. I have jogged along the west bank for the last decade and watched the preparation for the fireworks shows on the West end of the bridge. They usually start a couple of weeks early, have the area secured and several flatbeds of fireworks. As of 4 days early, there were no preparations in that area. Seriously, I thought they would pass this year. Finally some people in rented cargo trucks and RV's showed up and I saw two flatbeds. Perhaps taking this bidder was a result of the last minute funding as I assume the others were probably booked. It also was about half the money that is usually spent when the Tulsa World and other sponsors funded it. What $45000? I remember as much as $150,000 being spent. You get what you pay for. So, I stayed in the front yard to watch while the family and friends made the annual trek to Veterans Park.
Here to me is the bottom line. This was a rush deal and the River Parks Authority botched the whole process. Its amazing to me they are getting a free pass from responsibility. Lucky for them the thing blew up and they get most of the money back. Truth is, it never should have been put on this year. These are tough economic times and I think people would have understood that it couldn't be done this year but would return next year. Its not as though it is a revenue generator for the RPA. Or is it? The only people coming out ahead on this are the security, concessions, fire department, police dept and such. RPA gets a cut of concessions and who knows what else.
I think they screwed up and are blaming the fireworks contractor for what was a doomed project. Heckuva job Brownie.
Quote from: Steve on July 05, 2009, 09:21:44 PM
From what I understand, the change in start time was a last minute decision to get it done before a possible thunderstorm came through.
Today's TV reports say that River Parks will not pay for the portion of the program that was cancelled, and the pyrotechnics company has been cooperative so far. So maybe the money can be banked and saved for next year. I understand how many were disappointed, but sh*t happens.
Well said!!
This morning's World quotes Matt Meyer as saying the total budget was $100K, $45K was for the fireworks and they are trying to retrieve their deposit from the fireworks company.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090706_11_A4_Firewo93877&archive=yes
I mean, how long was it between the blast and the decision to dismiss the crowd? Were the respective Executive Directors of the respective entities - TPD, TFD, RPA, COT et al on site? Was there an earlier miscue say about five mins in? How many people were in danger from a mega-shell going off in their midst? Not only did the television stations not have a reporter and crew on the ground in the single biggest event that day in the City, but they regurgitated spoon-fed disinformation.
Long time listener, first time poster, etc. so on (Hi sgrizzle, it's Jason).
We didn't go down to the river this year. My 4 year old didn't like the loud noise last year, so she asked to stay home. Looks like we made the right choice.
Anyway, I'm just grateful no one got hurt. It could have been a lot worse...
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20090706_ap_officialsidteenkilledinpafireworksaccident.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/05/AR2009070502701.html
Quote from: Conan71 on July 06, 2009, 09:46:34 AM
This morning's World quotes Matt Meyer as saying the total budget was $100K, $45K was for the fireworks and they are trying to retrieve their deposit from the fireworks company.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090706_11_A4_Firewo93877&archive=yes
It's interesting that the cost for services to produce the show exceeded the cost of the fireworks themselves. That is probably why they didn't cancel it altogether. The cops, firefighters, security all got a little extra pay. The RPA and COT got some tax/concession money and the public got screwed. Bad PR for RPA too.
Why would they use a Missouri-based company? Seems odd that OK doesn't have a number of companies that could do the job.
I don't think there were many left who had time available once they got funds for the program. As late as two weeks ago they got the last donations from some local attorneys. Kind of late to get first tier guys by that time.
I am not 100% on it, but doesn't A&M pyrotechnics do the fireworks for the Drillers? I thought on of the local new stations mentioned this before the event.
Great point Waterboy.
It costs $15,000 to rent the air conditioned BOk Center complete with cleanup, security, and everything else needed (per the Taylor wedding "scandal") to host 10,000 of your friends. Why does it cost $55,000 to host people outside? I understand there are more people, but you also don't have lighting costs, air conditioning, or the fixed cost of having a $180,000,000 building. Nor are your people confined in a building, they are in public and often on their own property or in a friends apartment. Certainly it requires far less security per person than in a venue like the BOk center.
Reports place the annual crowd around 80,000 people. At $55,000 it isn't that much per person to put on the show really. With port-a-potties, cleanup, extra insurance, security . . . I'm sure it goes fast.
But still, I'd be very interested to see where that $55,000 goes.
You'd think with a $55K production budget they could have gotten the word out better that the show was starting 1/2 hour early. The whole production this year just seems to have been boned from the git-go. This also is not the first year we've had a last-minute financial "Hail Mary" that saved the day and made the fireworks happen. We've had really good shows even in those last minute years.
In light of what happened and how it happened: Civil fireworks shows should have a beginning and an ending. Much like a building being demolished there is a warning siren and a "all-clear" siren. There should be somthing very similar for civil fireworks shows.
A 5 minute to blast off and a "range all clear" signal.
I'm just sayin'
Quote from: ARGUS on July 06, 2009, 04:35:36 PM
In light of what happened and how it happened: Civil fireworks shows should have a beginning and an ending. Much like a building being demolished there is a warning siren and a "all-clear" siren. There should be somthing very similar for civil fireworks shows.
A 5 minute to blast off and a "range all clear" signal.
I'm just sayin'
They have one for the start, when the lights go out it's about to start
When that first boomer goes up...the show starts. But we could utilize the lunch whistle over at the refineries to signal the end of the show or, God forbid, an emergency signal.
As many of you know, I am skeptical of the operations at RPA. The same rumors that circulate about any authority or county operation have been uttered about them. I give those criticizms no substance unless it is first hand stuff. My biggest complaint is that there is little oversight for them and they operate as quasi-public, quasi-private. The fact that they utilize a lot of private funding does not assuage my discomfort. Its public lands they are using. Our city/county taxes are also part of their funding but the private $$ swing the dog.
Regardless, this was a screw up. Poor co-ordination and uncertain starting times. Poor sponsorship. People were mad. A lot of work to park in surrounding hoods, trudge with kids, chairs and ice chests, while dodging cars, find a good spot....then find out you missed most of it.
A good exec would have pulled the plug early when it looked like the benefits were exceeded by the cost. Unless some of those benefits and some of those costs are not directly evident. Just like the fair, there are a lot of people who get benefit when they come to town. No doubt the pressure was on from them to put on a show, any show.
And the excess money? Not returned, simply credited for next years show. You just have to take their word for that.
Wait what? The Fire Department violated City code and did not inspect the rig! Because of budget cuts! Oh, here, make sure to read this carefully because maybe I am just being a crank: http://clkurl.com/?637947. Oh, and lookee here: http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Fireworks-Fiasco-Raises-Questions/t3L2qiNNyEmMGncW-_6pBg.cspx?rss=77. Huge butt hat-tip to KTUL and KOKI for actually getting their heads out of the sand and digging around! Now, will they ask where the TPD Chief was, and where the TFD Chief was? The single largest event in our City's year and the two top safety officers were where?
Does the City even have an evacuation plan for the event? Or does that fall on the sponsoring organization? Is ONEOK sure they want to proceed with the ballpark and this City?
Quote from: Know Nothing on July 07, 2009, 06:48:51 AM
Is ONEOK sure they want to proceed with the ballpark and this City?
No, I think because a pyrotechnics company had a malfunction that cut a fireworks show short a major corporation will probably pull its sponsorship of the ballpark and likely move all operations out of the city.
You were so close to making a good point. Then you took this wild tangent. So close.
Quote from: cannon_fodder on July 07, 2009, 08:15:29 AM
No, I think because a pyrotechnics company had a malfunction that cut a fireworks show short a major corporation will probably pull its sponsorship of the ballpark and likely move all operations out of the city.
You were so close to making a good point. Then you took this wild tangent. So close.
So how much does the permit bring the City? That is an interesting follow-up reply. Maybe asking what the point is of even requiring the permit if the TFD has no clue what they are looking for. Where were the respective chiefs of our safety departments? Never mind that, CF, focus on your pettiness. Focus.
I cannot help it if I am the one who asked the question about the TFD's role in the 'fiasco.' Not my place to question if Tulsans were in danger and why the TPD was not able to initiate an orderly evacuation. Why the heck does downtown look like a disaster scene every time the BOK has an event?
No. I applaud your efforts into looking into TFD/TPD planning for this event. It was the wild tangent about ONEOK leaving Tulsa and/or pulling sponsorship for the ballpark because of it that I was criticizing.
QuoteNot my place to question if Tulsans were in danger and why the TPD was not able to initiate an orderly evacuation.
Evacuation? Evacuation of what? Was there some sort of disaster?
QuoteWhy the heck does downtown look like a disaster scene every time the BOK has an event?
It doesn't.
Quote from: cannon_fodder on July 07, 2009, 08:33:54 AM
No. I applaud your efforts into looking into TFD/TPD planning for this event. It was the wild tangent about ONEOK leaving Tulsa and/or pulling sponsorship for the ballpark because of it that I was criticizing.
Once KTUL and KOKI do the story you cared. Otherwise the Question of the Day was answering the obvious: is RPA going to get stuck with the whole bill. Wow. Toughie.
Anyway, gotta go for the day, ya'll git together and deflect as much as possible, y'hear?
Yep. Once you cited a credible source for your accusations I paid attention to you. You should try it more often.
The focus should be on one simple question. Who was in charge?
That leads to the other questions like:
Who made the decision to go forward with a low budget, low return, high cost program?
Who should have been in charge?
Who set up the poor communications network and where were they when stuff started to happen?
Who made the decision to start the fireworks early?
Who decided the public should not be told it was over?
We were lucky. We've been lucky with this program for many years. If these rockets had started going horizontal, we're talking CNN news crews delivered by helicopter. Helicopters and planes buzz the area as private contractors sell aerial views and risk crashing into crowds. Traffic in neighborhoods is often gridlocked and angry. Pedestrians are at risk going back to find their cars in the dark.
And for what? It made sense when there were beaux coups sponsors who wanted to pony up for all the good PR and product selling opportunities, but that time has passed. You mentioned 80,000 attendees CF. That is down from the 150,000 that showed up when I ran boats over there. People visit other displays around the city now. There was a time when $300,000 was reported as the cost of the fireworks and support systems. Now its $100,000? And the support cost is over half of that?
This lays squarely on Matt Meyer and his band of sycophants, otherwise known as the board. It was an unneccessary risk and I suspect he did it to keep money flowing into the hands of the parties outlined above. His Authority is about as prepared for crises as Brownie was for Katrina.
Accidents happen. Cry me a river. Boooooo hoooooo!
I wish for that $55k we would have had a thorough inspection, specially since we charged for it. I wish that $55K would have bought a PSA for the attendees that the gig was over. Wish we public safety officers in charge who would see that as their place to be.
Oh, and everytime there is a BOK event the entire area is sealed off, cops with their gumball lights all on like there was an accident. Lucky I know downtown, because going to events in this town is a crapshoot.
Why was it over after the explosion? Didn't I hear there was supposed to be a concert after the fireworks? This concert was mentioned as a reason they thought traffic problems after the fireworks could be lessened, because of those staying for the concert.
What's with the media stealing using the Youtube videos to show the explosion without getting permission or even paying the owner. Maybe not illegal via youtube but you sure can't do it with their(media) videos.
Quote from: MDepr2007 on July 08, 2009, 10:10:31 PM
What's with the media stealing using the Youtube videos to show the explosion without getting permission or even paying the owner. Maybe not illegal via youtube but you sure can't do it with their(media) videos.
You might consider reading the terms under which you license your content to YouTube.
Quote from: MDepr2007 on July 08, 2009, 10:10:31 PM
Why was it over after the explosion? Didn't I hear there was supposed to be a concert after the fireworks? This concert was mentioned as a reason they thought traffic problems after the fireworks could be lessened, because of those staying for the concert.
What's with the media stealing using the Youtube videos to show the explosion without getting permission or even paying the owner. Maybe not illegal via youtube but you sure can't do it with their(media) videos.
The concert continued for a bit after the show, but it wasn't anything special.
Was the concert the drummer planted in the median with his two daughters?
no, there was a small stage in the middle of the park that had a local band playing. Of course, they waited for the music for the show to end before they started playing, so it took a while for them to get up there.