Myrtle Beach was lit on Fourth of July. But fireworks caused problems for fire department
Fireworks lit up the night sky in Myrtle Beach on the Fourth of July despite no official shows.
Videos being shared on Facebook and other social media platforms showed dozens, if not hundreds, of fireworks exploding over the Myrtle Beach skyline and the oceanfront. Crowds gathered on the beach to watch the impromptu show Saturday night.
Myrtle Beach and other groups canceled their firework shows to try and slow the spread of coronavirus in the area. Shows on Second Avenue Pier, at the Pelicans’ stadium and in North Myrtle Beach were canceled and the annual show at the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk was postponed to September.
Still, locals and visitors were not deterred in lighting up the sky.
The display went on despite fireworks being illegal in city limits. According to city ordinance, it is unlawful to “use, fire, shoot, discharge, or ignite any fireworks within the city limits of Myrtle Beach on any public beach, public beach access, street end adjacent to the beach, or any government land immediately adjacent to the beach, except as otherwise lawfully permitted.” A few people were charged with violating the city’s fireworks ordinance.
The fireworks also created problems for the Myrtle Beach Fire Department as three brush fires and four dumpster fires were reported Saturday night, said Jonathan Evans, spokesperson for MBFD. Several other brush fires were reported in Horry County around the same time.
