Fourth of July Fireworks: Watch a Computer Malfunction Ignite 7,000 Fireworks at Once! (VIDEO)

By Eric Corpus, Friday, July 04, 2014

On July 4, 2012, San Diego residents settled in for the annual Big Bay Boom fireworks show. The 2012 edition was set to be 17 minutes long with 7,000 fireworks launched in computer-controlled coordination.

However, unbeknownst to organizers, a computer file had become corrupted, and the system lit all 7,000 fireworks AT THE SAME TIME. The result was a pyromaniac's dream, but 4th of July purists were probably left wanting more. Either way, it makes for one fascinating video.

(By the way, if you have headphones on, the sound of 7,000 fireworks going off at once is pretty loud. Best turn down the volume before hitting play.)