posted on Jul, 5 2017 @ 12:32 AM
Wife and I got stationed in Detroit, MI one time for a big project. We'd heard about the fireworks show on the Detroit River. It attracts hundreds
of thousands on both sides of the border. They don't do it on the "4th", they do it a few days beforehand (forgive me for not knowing the Canadian
holiday) to coincide with "Canada Day" (or something like that, again, sorry for likely getting it wrong).
Anyway, we had a good spot for the fireworks on the Detroit side. Out in the river they have several huge barges full of fireworks (( actually think
it's one of the bigger fireworks shows in the US/Canada).
The show started off as any great fireworks show. Lots of great booms and showers. I knew a little bit about how they staged it at the time, and
knew there would be a pause between the different barges. There were lots of performing acts and live music.
I think it was between the 2nd and 3rd barge. Everyone was partying, it was fun. They lit off the 3rd barge starting with some big 12" shells. You
cold hear the concussion across the water. BIG (thumps), as the shock waves came across the river, maybe 3 of them. You just knew it was going to be
HUGE!
All the barges were loaded with sand, and the big fireworks shells were loaded in steel tubes buried in the sand. The had a control boat which would
trigger the fireworks in time with a music score on several radio stations. It was really cool to watch.
But there were (3) bass notes in the song that night, and there were (3) shock waves as the shells lauched...and then...a duller (4th) (thud). UH
OHHHHhhhhhhh!!!!
I forget the year, and perhaps some other MI members here may remember this day, but that whole entire barge went up...the whole damn thing...every
last shell they had on that barge (there were hundreds). It was one of the biggest uncontrolled conflagrations I've ever seen!
It was absolutely SPECTACULAR! Most human beings on planet Earth have never seen anything like this!! Probably 2,000 TONS of fireworks all going off
at the same time! You could see the big fire boats moving in, spraying hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, but the show (unexpected) went on.
Spotlights were on the barge, now partially submerged, rescue boats everywhere, sirens, police boats everywhere. The thunder and shock waves from
that day were just incredible.
Much of the crowd was confused, they thought it was the grand finale, but it was only halfway through the show...but no "grand finale" would EVER
match what happened that night!!!!! EVAR!!
Some shells went off straight up, others off at an angle, some sideways, some just erupted on the barge, shooting huge blue red and green streamers
dancing across the water. It went on for 20 minutes or so. Absolutely EPIC.
Fortunately, no one was killed, and I've seen some pretty good shows on the 4th, but that one takes the cake!!