Vendor apologizes to communities after failing to deliver fireworks

Fourth of July fireworks shows didn’t go off as planned in two New Jersey communities after a vendor failed to deliver the fireworks.

Rochelle Park-based Fireworks Extravaganza posted an apology Thursday on its Facebook page.

It said a “perfect storm of events took place” that meant the fireworks could not be legally delivered to Beachwood and Milltown on Wednesday. The company was to deliver the fireworks and supplies from Maryland.

But officials say the firm didn’t have a licensed hazmat driver and also didn’t have a contingency plan in place.

Fireworks Extravaganza President John Sagaria took the blame for the delivery problems in both towns.

“This is the first time even in hundreds and hundreds of shows per year over a span of 10 years that this has taken place,” he wrote.

He added, in part, that his “heart was broken” that the skies were dark over Beachwood and Milltown, adding that he loves to “light up the sky and tell a story.”

Sagaria said he’s hopeful the matter can be resolved, noting that has offered to put on a choreographed firework display at no cost.

2018 would have marked the 78th year of the Beachwood fireworks display, which is enjoyed by spectators along both sides of the Toms River and hundreds of boaters.

WOBM reporter Kevin Williams and a member of the Beachwood Fireworks Committee wrote that the annual display, funded by donations from the public and the business community, is “a source of pride to the borough and done with great effort and contributions from the police and public works departments as well as volunteers from fire and first aid squads.”

“There is also tremendous coordination with surrounding towns, the State Police and the Coast Guard, something that is done over months. For that reason you simply can’t re-schedule the show,” he added.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.