Fireworks barge collapses in Nevada due to extreme winds, officials say

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (KRNV) — People who had planned to watch fireworks in Nevada’s Incline Village for the Fourth of July were disappointed, as the event was canceled after the barge that was holding all of the fireworks for the show collapsed due to strong winds and high tides Thursday evening.

Officials said they were also forced to close Incline Beach and Ski Beach Friday.

We were hoping for a nice day at the beach, and here we are. We can’t even go to the beach, we can’t see any fireworks, we get no music at the beach. It’s the most disappointing thing ever. I don’t know how this happened,” Incline Village Resident Bill Jakobowski said.

Officials said a high-wind event caused the barge to collapse into pieces and, ultimately, a large part of it to sink.

Late evening during the night, we had an increase in winds, which increased the waves. So one to three feet at least, probably maybe two to four, which ended up swamping the barge, and then the pumps on the barge were unable to maintain that causing the issues from there,” Capt. Joseph Colacurcio from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said.

Officials were unable to say exactly how many of the roughly 1,200 fireworks shells on board ended up in the lake and how many were on the part of the barge that they were able to recover and dispose of properly.

Crews from the WCSO, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District and other agencies were on site Friday working to clear what was left. Officials said the beaches would remain closed at least until Saturday morning.

“That’s what we’re waiting on, to see how much debris we need to get removed and get off the beach,” Colacurcio said.

If you see something at the lake that looks like it could be a firework, officials say do not touch it. Instead, call law enforcement and they will dispose of it properly and safely.