Bay City Tribune

Hundreds attended Bay City Parks and Recreation's annual Fourth of July Flight Fest at the airport Saturday and were witness to a Flight Fest first - spreading grassfires.

While the beautiful bombs were bursting in the air above, the terrible drought Matagorda County has been experiencing was wreaking havoc on the ground below.

"We've had small fires in the past (during the fireworks show) but nothing this size," said Rory Hafernick, Bay City Parks and Recreation director.

"We probably had like a hundred little fires going at one point."

Despite the extra precautions the Parks and Recreation staff had taken earlier in the week by mowing the grass very short around the apron, when the fireworks show began so did the problems.

Having the Bay City Volunteer Fire Department on hand with a water truck to put out the fires, was one of those extra precautions.

Hafernick said they also had anticipated the fires by keeping 10 to 15 fire extinguishers on hand in case they were needed.

Because the fireworks were split into two shows, the Salute to the Troops ground show and the much larger fireworks show as is tradition at Flight Fest.

Despite the fires, those who attended Flight Fest weren't slighted the anticipated show, said Hafernick.

"After the Salute to the Troops when we had the fires the fire department came in and helped us put those out before we started on the main fireworks show," he said.

"We knew we were going to get fires so I shot them all real fast and then started working on the fires as quick as we could."

Hafernick said because they were prepared for what might happen, by mowing the tall grass, asking the fire department to be on site and stocking up on 10 to 15 extra fire extinguishers, the blazes were easy to contain.

"That's one reason we warned people to come and enjoy our fireworks instead of shooting them off at their home and not being prepared to deal with the fires," said Hafernick.

Although the event ended with firefighters and parks and recreation staff working to put out the flames, there was plenty of fun to go around starting with the games for the kids, airplane rides, an aerobatics show and a giant ping pong ball drop.

Hafernick said 543 ping pong balls were unleashed from the sky above the airport bearing great prizes such as gift certificates to local stores and restaurants.

The special "Salute to the Troops" was a moving patriotic ceremony that included an honor guard presentation of colors, a musical salute to each branch of the military, a prayer for the nation and an inspiring speech on the birth of our country delivered by Bay City Councilman Clarence Fenner.