A fire broke out during the Ridgecrest Freedom Fest on Saturday night, cutting the fireworks show short. At around 9:16 p.m. on June 28, the fire started in an alfalfa field between the fairgrounds and the animal shelter.
Soon after, police and firefighters arrived at the scene. As a safety measure, they kept all spectators away from the area. Eventually, the fire burned itself out in several isolated patches. By then, emergency crews had brought the situation under control.
Spectators Shared Shocking Videos Online
Meanwhile, videos and photos of the fire began spreading on Facebook. People watching the show captured the incident as it unfolded.
One user posted a video and wrote, “To not have first responders at an event like this is mind blowing. It started out as a tiny little fire and we watched it grow at a very slow rate until it was huge. Took about 20-30 minutes to grow to this size.”
Another shared photos and said, “Fireworks show in Ridgecrest ended early due to real fire.” A third added, “Another day in Ridgecrest. It was nice until the fire broke out.”
The Event Promised Unity and Celebration
Before the fire, the event was meant to be a cheerful celebration. The website zeffy.com had promoted the fest as a family-friendly evening:
“Join us on June 28th for a spectacular celebration of FREEDOM and UNITY at the Fairgrounds, featuring our spectacular fireworks show, Fire Spinners, delicious food from vendors and SO MUCH MORE! Gates open at 6:30 pm and show starts just after dusk. Get comfortable – bring chairs and blankets! 5 and under are free.”
City Called It a Summer Tradition
Earlier in the week, the City of Ridgecrest had also advertised the event on Facebook. The post read, “One of Ridgecrest’s favorite summer traditions is almost here! Freedom Fest returns to the Desert Empire Fairgrounds & Events Center this Saturday, June 28th with live music, food, fun, and an incredible fireworks show!”
