Newport fireworks display surprises residents

NEWPORT BEACH -- Fireworks that marked the dramatic finale for a

wedding reception at the Pelican Hill Pavilion on Sunday night jolted

several residents who flooded the city and Police Department with

complaints, officials said.

The wedding party had secured the required permit from the city to

shoot the firecrackers from an offshore barge, City Manager Homer Bludau

said.

“We haven’t had these requests too often,” he said. “But when we do

get the requests, we consider and evaluate them and allow them, subject

to certain conditions.”

In this case, the fireworks should have been finished by 9:30 p.m.,

Bludau said.

“But I believe, [Sunday] night, they did not start until 9:45 p.m.,”

he said. Bludau said the lateness of the hour may have caused people to

react. He said not adhering to that condition may be a violation of city

code.

“People were obviously not expecting them,” he said. “And there was no

way for us to notify them in advance either.”

Longtime Corona del Mar resident Paulette Johnson was one of those who

said the fireworks shocked her.

“I saw ’60 Minutes’ last night on TV, and there were all these

terrorists who were saying, ‘I’m going to get you, USA,’ and then you go

to bed and all of a sudden, it’s boom, boom, bang, bang. You think

there’s a battleship out there,” Johnson said. “Under the circumstances,

neighbors should have been informed. It’s basic courtesy.”

The Police Department also received several calls Sunday night, Lt.

John Klein said.

“But there was nothing much we could do about it because they were

operating with a city permit,” he said.

Such permits do not usually go before the City Council for approval,

Bludau said. It is reviewed by city staff, as well as the Fire

Department, and is finally approved by the city, he said. The applicant,

in addition to taking fire safety precautions, must also take out $1

million in liability insurance, Bludau said.

But the future does not bode well for those who want to celebrate with

a bang. Bludau said the volume of calls responding to Sunday night’s

fireworks has prompted the city officials to ponder the approval process

for such permits.

“Based on the calls we’ve gotten, we’re going to take a closer look

and see if we want to do this in the future,” Bludau said.

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .