In this photo provided by Ben Baller, a yachts are illuminated in the foreground as a malfunction causes the entire Fourth of July fireworks show to go off all at once over San Diego Bay near Coronado Island in San Diego, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The Coast Guard says the mishap occurred minutes before the scheduled opening of the Big Bay Boom show. More than 500,000 people witnessed the short-lived spectacle. No injuries were reported. (AP Photo/Ben Baller) MANDATORY CREDIT
July 05, 2012 - 9:50 AM
SAN DIEGO - After a malfunction that authorities are calling a "premature ignition," the fireworks show above San Diego Bay was over before it was supposed to start.
The Coast Guard says the mishap occurred minutes before the scheduled opening of the Big Bay Boom show, causing a display that was planned to last nearly 20 minutes to burn up all at once.
Guard spokesman Rich Dann tells U-T San Diego (http://bit.ly/LpWoU7) he's never seen so many fireworks go off at one time.
Show producer Garden State Fireworks has apologized, saying they were working to determine what "caused the entire show to be launched in about 15 seconds."
Video of the big, bright fizzle is glowing strong on YouTube.
About 50,000 people were estimated to have been in attendance.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012