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Small fire interrupts Healdsburg display

Ann Carranza
A reader's shot of the Healdsburg fireworks display on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The show was temporarily interrupted by a small fire on the Healdsburg High School campus.

Published: Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.

A small fire broke out Saturday night during a fireworks display in Healdsburg, temporarily stopping the show.

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Flaming debris, apparently from a pyrotechnic device used in the show, ignited a small pile of vegetation on the Healdsburg High School campus at about 9:50 p.m., police Officer Steve Cox said.

Firefighters overseeing the event, which was staged at the school, put it out within minutes, Cox said.

It was unclear if the fire caused any damage to buildings or other school property.

Cox said turnout for the city’s annual display was in the thousands.

Among the revelers was Gail Otteson of Windsor, who was with her husband Robert near the baseball diamond.

Otteson said she saw sparks fall near the debris pile and start the blaze. She and others yelled to firefighters, who dispatched it quickly.

She worried high winds might start other fires.

“We got a little more excitement than we expected,” Otteson said.

—Paul Payne


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  1. njoy00 says...
    July 5, 2009 3:39:33 pm

    Thanks to American Legion Sotoyome Post 111 for a great fireworks show! sotoyomepost111.org

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  2. garynowi says...
    July 5, 2009 4:35:56 pm

    Yes, there is no doubt that the American Legion fireworks shows are getting bigger, and better every year. But, what has happened to the low level ground based pyrotechnics? Completely gone in favor of those spectacular MASSIVE shells. Am I the only one that has noticed the houses to the north with shake roofs? I've witnessed numerous shell casings hit the ground still flaming. It they keep cranking up the high aerial shots, it is only a matter of time until a catastrophe happens.

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