Gripes Mount Over Salem Fireworks Display

SALEM, MA -- Residents and visitors took to social media Thursday and Friday to complain that the city's Fourth of July fireworks were subpar this year when compared with previous years. The culprit was a change in location for where the fireworks were launched, which meant some prime viewing spots didn't have as good of sight lines as usual for the display.

Last year the fireworks were launched from Pickering Wharf -- a move that ended up causing $50,000 in damage to boats docked there during the display. Pickering Wharf also presented a problem, as it's an active commercial channel and could not be shut for the day or more it would take to set up the display. The state Fire Marshall nixed a plan to launch them from Derby Wharf this year, much to the relief of the National Parks Service, which is still repairing damage there from winter storms.

The solution, Ward 5 Councilor Josh Turiel explained on his Facebook page on Thursday, was a barge the fireworks company positioned taking into account tides and distance from the wharfs. "Unfortunately, our stage interfered with the view from the lawn. and the change in location made the viewing worse from a few of the traditional vantage points," he wrote.

Turiel, for the record, watched the fireworks from a location near Blaney Street where they view was "spectacular."

"Hopefully for next year we'll be able to use a location that provides a better view for more people, but safety will ultimately be the deciding factor first over the view," he said.

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Brandon Benton watches Salem's Fourth of July fireworks Wednesday night with his 2-year-old daughter Mariah. Photo by Evelyn Falasca.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).