VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A large, illegal fireworks display at Rudee Inlet on the eve of the Fourth of July caused “excessive damage” to multiple boats docked at the harbor, according to the Virginia Beach Fire Prevention Bureau.
Neither the city nor the Virginia Beach Fire Prevention Bureau sanctioned the display or granted it a permit.
The city’s fire prevention bureau is now seeking information about the incident or anyone who may have been responsible for what it said was an unsanctioned event.
Virginia Beach Deputy Fire Marshal, Jim Ingledue said the fireworks damaged many of the boats docked at the marina.
“It seems to be so far about 24 to 30,” he said, “There were maybe some burns to upholstery, some scorch marks, there’s fireworks debris …it was found in a few locations. Not the least of which was left next to the fuel pumps at the marina.”
Ingledue told 10 On Your Side that while illegal fireworks during holidays aren’t uncommon, the fire department treats each one seriously.
However, he said they’re hard to enforce.
“We’re investigating this kind of backwards because there was damage and because of the damage and reports of the damage, we’re trying to find out who is responsible for that fireworks display,” he explained.
He also explained a complex part of this investigation.
“Just because a boat is tied up in that marina, doesn’t mean that the boat owner lives directly adjacent to the marina. They can live on the north end of the beach and keep their boat at that marina.“
He said this situation just goes to show that fireworks are more dangerous than people think, recalling a time when they turned deadly.
“We had an incident a few years ago where a resident was lighting his own fireworks and it ended up being a fatal accident…There is that chance that somebody could get hurt and when they do get hurt, it’s usually pretty serious.”
Anyone with information can contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at 757-385-4228, email VBFMO@vbgov.com or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
