FAIL: Fireworks Ignite All at Once Resulting in Spectacular, Yet Brief Show

Coast Guard officials believe premature ignition may be to blame.

It was a great show while it lasted. For 30 glorious seconds, the nearly half million spectators at the San Diego Big Bay Boom fireworks show enjoyed an awe-inspiring site. “It looked like the finale... you know, right at the end they shoot off everything,” said Rich Dann, a civilian Coast Guard employee at the San Diego station, according to a report on Poway Patch. Fireworks enthusiast Napoleon Steele summed up the feelings of many. “The beginning was the best. It was amazing,“ he said. “But the middle sucked and the end sucked,” he said. Yahoo News reports it took more than 20 minutes for event organizers to notify the crowd that they had seen everything there was to see. "We sincerely apologize for the technical glitch that affected …

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Community Photos

Fantastic July 4th Fireworks

Share your best photos from Fourth of July celebrations for a chance to win our weekly giveaway.

How did you celebrate Independence Day this year?  Did you host a backyard barbecue, ride on a parade float, run in an organized race or join the fun at one of the many community celebrations? Share your best photos now by clicking on the "upload photos and video button" and you could be in the running for a prize pack! Thanks to Patch reader Dan McDaniel for sharing this photo! He's been entered into this week's contest. Each week we're giving away a Patch gear prize pack to one winner selected at random from the readers whose photos are featured Monday through Saturday. The winner will be announced Sunday. Photos uploaded to the Featured Photos articles or to one of our neighborhood galleries qualify.

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Where to Watch Fireworks This 4th of July

Looking for a place to watch fireworks? Celebrate Independence Day in and around Gwinnett County at these local festivities.

Enjoy fireworks and more this Independence Day at these local 4th of July festivities: Wednesday, July 4, 2012 Want to learn how to take spectacular fireworks photographs? Click here. Be sure and share your Independence Day celebration and fireworks photos in our Dacula Patch community photo gallery.

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Kristi Reed

3:55 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy Independence Day Jimmy!   more ›

How to Photograph Fireworks This 4th of July

A Patch photographer gives advice on capturing the sparkle in the sky.

Capturing fireworks on camera is a challenge that can be mastered easily with the right equipment and settings on your camera.  Here is a short tutorial to help you capture the rockets' red glare this Fourth of July.   Equipment needed: While Dacula doesn't have its own fireworks display, there are several other fireworks displays in and around Gwinnett County. Have a fireworks photo to share? Upload it to Patch!

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Use Caution With Fireworks for Safe, Fun Fourth of July Celebrations

Fireworks distributor TNT Fireworks shares safety tips.

Though Georgia limits the types of fireworks that can be purchased and used, pyrotechnic products are easily available across state lines. In Georgia, fireworks such as firecrackers, skyrockets and cherry bombs are illegal to sell or use. Violations of the law can result in a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail. Permitted fireworks include “Wire or wood sparklers of 100 grams or less of mixture per item; other sparkling items which are non-explosive and non-aerial and contain 75 grams or less of chemical compound per tube or a total of 200 grams or less for multiple tubes; snake and glow worms; trick noise makers which include paper streamers, party poppers, string poppers, snappers, and drop pops each consisting of 0.25 …

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Fourth of July Celebrations to Light up Skies Over Gwinnett

There are a lot of ways to celebrate Independence Day in and around Gwinnett County.

Many exciting, family-oriented Independence Day celebrations are taking place around Gwinnett County this year. Click on the links below for additional details. Saturday, June 30, 2012 Sunday, July 1, 2012 Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Wednesday, July 4, 2012

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Officials Urge Caution When Using Fireworks

Firefighters suggest leaving pyrotechnics to the professionals.

This Independence Day weekend, firefighters will be on alert for firework related injuries and property damage. “The combination of dry vegetation and enthusiastic patriots lighting fireworks can lead to situations that could easily get out of hand,” said Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services public information officer Capt. Tommy Rutledge in a released statement. “With the many opportunities to get together and view professional fireworks displays, why take any risks?” Dry weather conditions and the potential for personal injury are two of the reasons officials urge citizens to attend public fireworks displays rather than hosting their own. “Public fireworks displays are conducted by licensed and permitted professional …

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Fireworks to Light Up Sky Over Gwinnett County

Here's a list of places to see fireworks displays all over Gwinnett County July 2, 3 and 4.

Celebrate Independence Day Although Gwinnett County no longer hosts Gwinnett Glows, its annual Independence Day event, there are many other celebrations with fireworks occurring around the county. See the list of events provided by Gwinnett County to plan your Fourth of July weekend. Because they are offered on different dates, you might even be able to catch more than one fireworks show. Saturday, July 2, 2011   Sunday, July 3, 2011   Monday, July 4, 2011

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Fire Officials Urge Caution with Fireworks

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services offers safety tips for using legal fireworks to ring in 2011.

While Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services discourages the use of fireworks during New Year's Eve celebrations, officials acknowledge that many people will use the potentially dangerous explosives. To reduce the risk of injury and property damage, fire officials offer the following recommendations:

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