Grand Finale of Coralville Fireworks Accidentally Goes Off in First Minute

If you were watching the Coralville fireworks on Fourth of July, you are probably wondering why, just as the display began, the sky erupted in a fireball of lights and explosions - a scene that typically marks the grand finale.

Now we know why.

Apparently a computer glitch caused the fireworks to go off prematurely, the Press-Citizen and Gazette report, citing Coralville officials. 

Coralville Fire Chief Dave Stannard ruled out user error after tests after the festivities concluded, the Press-Citizen reported.

The Gazette reported citing fire prevention officer Orey Schwitzer that 70 percent to 75 percent of the display went off in the first minute. While some were disappointed, no one was injured. 

Here's more from the Press-Citizen: 

Kelly Hayworth, city administrator, said a glitch in the fireworks planning program disrupted the order of the fireworks, sending up multiple bursts at a time. A “significant” amount shot off at the beginning, which shortened the show.

“We haven’t determined if it was a hardware or software glitch,” Hayworth said. “The good thing was that everything was done safely.”

He said the city spends $12,000 on Fourth of July fireworks.

This isn't the first time we've experience Fourth of July fireworks run amok. 

A malfunction created a disappointing fireworks display in Iowa City's a few years ago. Minutes separated fireworks being launched in a dragged out show that saw most of the crowd leave before it concluded.