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Jun 5, 2008 11:36 pm US/Central
Winds Spark Fire During Fort Worth Fireworks Show
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Officials say high winds during a fireworks show sparked a grass fire at Gateway Park in Fort Worth. The park is located at the corner of Beach Street and East First Street.
The fire commander on the scene said the fireworks were in celebration of a national softball tournament that had just ended at the park.
On Friday, Lt. Kent Worley, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Fire Department, said a fire marshal approved the display because the winds at the time were within the department's guidelines for fireworks. Worley said in hindsight the approval was a "mistake," but that the marshal made the best decision he could with the information he had. Worley also said the department takes responsibility for the fire.
According to the City of Fort Worth's Web site, the city was chosen by the Amateur Softball Association to host the USA's Olympic Gold Medal Softball Team's exhibition games at Gateway Park.
Sparks from the fireworks went into the brush and ignited it. Fire officials say about 10 acres were burned.
The wind was blowing at 40 mph on Thursday night.
"I was standing on top of a fire truck shooting some video, and I almost got blown off," said TXA 21 Managing Editor Chris Best. "I weigh about 200 pounds, so that will tell you about how heavy the winds are out here."
Thousands of people at the park watched the fire as they tried to leave the area. The fire was far enough away that no one was in any immediate danger.
No one was injured and no property was damaged.
Organizers of the Concert in the Gardens, an event being held in the park on Friday night, decided to cancel their scheduled fireworks display. The concert, however, will go on as planned.
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