Vendor Fails To Deliver Fireworks For Milltown, 1 Other NJ Town

MILLTOWN, NJ — Talk about a damp squib. The town of Milltown was forced to abruptly cancel its Wednesday night, July 4 fireworks show, after the fireworks company hired by the town was a no-show.

And it was not just Middlesex County residents left in the dark last night: The exact same fireworks provider, a company called Fireworks Extravaganza, also failed to deliver fireworks for Beachwood, NJ, forcing that Jersey Shore town to cancel their show, as well. Hundreds of furious Facebook residents have taken to Facebook to bash the vendor for fizzling out.

Fireworks Extravaganza, based in New Rochelle, NJ, is no amateur fireworks vendor. They've provided the light-and-kaboom show for years for hundreds of municipalities throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

By Thursday morning, the president of Fireworks Extravaganza, John Sagaria, released a very long-winded apology letter to the company's Facebook page. In his letter, he said he loved his job, "loved to light up the sky and tell a story." However, the fireworks were not delivered because he apparently did not have a hazmat-certified driver in place on the fourth of July.

"Yesterday a perfect storm of events took place and we were unable to get the product legally delivered to your site," he wrote, in a letter addressed to the residents of Milltown and Beachwood. "It was all about the delivery. Many regulations are in place for transportation of explosives and this is what failed."

Apparently, the fireworks were supposed to be dropped off in both towns around noon Wednesday so set-up could begin. But when nobody showed up, furious town officials called Fireworks Extravaganza. After about an hour, someone from the company finally called Beachwood back, to say that they could not deliver the fireworks because they did not have a hazmat driver licensed to make the delivery, according to WOBM, the radio station that was supposed to broadcast the entire show.

"This failure is my fault...," Sagaria added. "This is the first time ever in hundreds and hundreds of shows per year over a span of 10 years that this has taken place ... Remembering the people (and mostly the kids) of your two communities, I get a heartache ... I am so sorry for yesterday, and I will do anything today to compensate."

To make up for it, Fireworks Eextravaganza has offered to do a free show for Beachwood and Milltown. Beachwood Mayor Ron Roma already said no thanks. Officials in Milltown have not yet returned Patch's calls to see if they'll accept.

This was the first time Beachwood decided to go with Fireworks Extravaganza. The previous company had a prior commitment and Fireworks Extravaganza offered to do the job for $17,000, $3,000 less than other offers, Roma told a reporter with the Berkeley Patch.

Beachwood had already paid half of the price and Roma is waiting for Fireworks Extravaganza to return the other half. Residents from Beachwood and other towns along the Toms River donate to the fireworks fund all year. The money will go back into the fund for next year's July 4 display, Roma said.

Related: Fireworks Company Prez Apologizes For Beachwood July 4 Debacle

In fact, Fireworks Extravaganza is the same company putting on Brick's "Summerfest" festival Thursday night, July 5.

When asked by Patch, Brick's business administrator, Joanne Bergin, admitted they were nervous, but they've been in touch with Fireworks Extravaganza and the explosives are on their way.

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