Illegal fireworks are seen from a hillside during a smoky sunset in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMO — A fireworks show at a country club Saturday — amid the Bay Area’s record-breaking October heat wave and red-flag fire conditions — brought angry complaints from residents and a regret-filled apology from the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District’s fire chief on Monday.
The fireworks show at the Round Hill Country Club on Saturday night was professionally conducted, according to fire officials. Nonetheless, the event, held even as temperatures barely cooled in the evening after another 100-degree day, drew strong criticism.
For that, Fire Chief Paige Meyer said Monday, he is sorry.
“We’re just being honest about it, acknowledging our mistake and owning it and making sure it never happens again,” Meyer said Monday. “It’s frustrating to me.
“Ultimately, it’s my responsibility that it happened. So I’m hoping we get some forgiveness. Fortunately, it didn’t result in any major damage, other than to our egos.”
Temperatures in Alamo peaked at 100 degrees on Saturday.
Meyer said miscommunication within the fire district led to the show going on through the dangerous conditions. The fireworks show was scheduled after another show — originally set for the Fourth of July, another time of extreme fire danger due to weather — had been cancelled because of perilous conditions.
“There was a miscommunication within our staff regarding that show,” Meyer said. “We’ve adjusted that to make sure that it never happens again. As the fire chief, it’s not a show I would’ve approved. The staff on site had ensured and did ensure that it was within the requirements that are set for such shows to be presented.”
The fireworks caused an uproar among people in the Tri-Valley, with some expressing their shock on social media platforms such as NextDoor.
“What’s going on tonight?” Julie Cordes-Jones wrote. “Fireworks in October on a hot, dry night. … This firework event has been going on for at least 15 minutes. Can’t believe someone is so brazen to do this.”
A request for comment left with Round Hill Country Club wasn’t returned immediately on Monday.
Meyer, who has been the chief of the district for 12 years, said he has not previously had issues with cancelling fireworks shows, pointing to the one on the Fourth of July and others.
“We’re in a zero-risk business for entertainment,” he said. “It’s something I wish we didn’t have to deal with at a time when it’s more and more clear that we’re in a dangerous time all the time for fire. Again, though, this one is on us. It shouldn’t have happened. We’re sorry that it did.”
Staff writer Kristin J. Bender contributed to this report.
Originally published at Rick Hurd