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Press
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Fireworks draw record beach crowd
Firefighter rushed to hospital after collapse | By Ryan Mavity | Cape Gazette
A swarm of humanity descended upon Rehoboth Beach for the annual Fourth of July fireworks, which drew what organizers and city officials say was a record crowd.
Commissioner Kathy McGuiness, chairwoman of the city’s Fireworks Committee, said while there is no accurate count at this time, she believes there were at least 100,000 people in attendance.
“I’ve never seen it so crowded,” she said. “It was a wonderful, wonderful show. I think it’s the best show we’ve put on.”
Up and down the mile-long Boardwalk, there was nary a spot to be had for fireworks watchers, particularly in the central business area along the Boardwalk. Rehoboth Beach Main Street’s fireworks went off about 15 to 20 minutes later than the advertised 9:15 p.m. shoot time.
On Wilmington Avenue, long lines formed for Thrasher’s French Fries, and all tables at the Greene Turtle were booked. Still, Nick Caggiano Jr. of Nicola Pizza and Nicola Pizza on the Avenue said business was about the same as last year, although Memorial Day weekend was a little better than July Fourth weekend.
Watching over the festivities was the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company, which received assistance from fire departments all over Sussex County. First Assistant Chief Chuck Snyder said firefighters responded to four incidents July Fourth, none of them too serious.
The only scary moment for the firefighters was around 11 p.m. in Dewey Beach, when a firefighter from the Seaford Volunteer Fire Company collapsed. Seaford firefighters were on standby in Dewey, Snyder said, when they got a call about a possible structure fire near Clayton Street.
The fire turned out to be bushes that caught on fire after getting singed by the embers of fireworks fired off from across the street. After wrapping up the fire, one of the Seaford firefighters went down and was given emergency assistance on the spot before going to the hospital.
Snyder said the firefighter was in intensive care, but no update on his condition was available at press time.
Snyder said the crowd was the largest he had ever seen, which was both a good and bad thing. Good for the businesses, but bad for emergency response because of the traffic jams that clog roads, making it hard to get fire trucks and emergency vehicles in and out.
“It was an unbelievable amount of people,” Snyder said.
Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks said this department received 32 complaints, mostly issues such as lost children, theft, and drunk and disorderly conduct, including two fights.
“Not a lot of anything major, but enough to keep you busy,” he said. Banks said there were very few complaints about traffic getting out of Rehoboth, and visitors got out in an orderly fashion. Many people stayed in the area after the fireworks, either to watch The Funsters’ set at the Bandstand or go out for a nightcap in Rehoboth or Dewey Beach.
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