Marblehead fireworks canceled after fire on barge overnight

Thursday night's Fourth of July fireworks display in Marblehead, Massachusetts, has been canceled after a fire broke out on the fireworks barge overnight.

"We are sorry to have to announce that the Marblehead Fireworks 2024 are canceled," the fireworks committee said in a post on X early Thursday morning. "There was a fire on the barge in the middle of the night."

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The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating, but won't let the town set off any fireworks until the fire's cause has been determined. The fireworks display had been scheduled for 9 p.m. Thursday over Marblehead Harbor.

The Coast Guard tells NBC10 Boston that the fire broke out around 1 a.m. Thursday. There were no fireworks on board at the time, but we're told that the barge was used in a different show Wednesday night in Lynn.

“Heard there was a huge fire in the harbor so I walked over and saw it,” Marblehead resident Sean Murray said.

“I got the messages at 2 a.m. this morning so I’ve been up for a few hours,” said Alexander Falk, the chair of Marblehead's fireworks committee.

Falk says the fire department told him that they would have to cancel Thursday night's show.

“I’m extremely disappointed," he said. "This being the second year in a row with the fog last year.”

Falk says the good news is that none of their fireworks had been loaded on board yet. The July Fourth celebration is an event they spend all year raising money for.

“The Town of Marblehead and its residents, the clubs in town, the businesses in town come together to raise money for the show," he said.

It's a disappointment for people in Marblehead.

“Well kind of a bummer because last year we all came out here and we couldn’t see anything because of the fog. It’s a big thing for the town,” resident Chris Hasset said.

There's no word yet on what caused the fire. Organizers say it’s not clear if the fireworks will be rescheduled.

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