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There's nothing like a surprise midnight fireworks show on any day other than the 4th of July. Marina del Rey residents were rattled when they woke up to just that early this morning—and it looks like a Kardashian was behind the spectacle.
Folks took to social media and Reddit to talk about how strange it was that they were seeing a massive fireworks show over the waters on such a random day. TMZ reported that the fireworks went on for a thunderous 15 minutes. Many were mad, others confused, and a few thought the fireworks were cool.
Quite a fireworks show in Marina del Rey for a Tuesday @ Midnight.
— Fernando Maclen (@fmaclen) August 26, 2015
Apparently there was some fireworks that went off in Marina Del Rey? I legit thought a terrorist attack at LAX was happening.
— Ty Leisher (@TyLeisher) August 26, 2015
At the same time as the fireworks were going off, 31-year-old Khloe Kardashian was throwing a 26th birthday party for her beau, Houston Rockets player James Harden, on a yacht in Marina del Rey. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that authorities did issue a fireworks permit to Harden and a Kardashian, and one said he hadn't seen anyone been issued this permit in the last five years on any day other than a holiday. LAist reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard for comment, but have not heard back yet.
Gossip site Terez Owens published photos from inside the boat party, showing all the guests wearing white. US Magazine reports that there were more than 200 guests on the boat, including the Kardashian clan, Kanye West, Tyga, Amber Rose and basketball players Trevor Ariza and Baron Davis.
Kardashian yacht going by, source of Marina Del Rey midnight fireworks. Note reflection in tears of working plebs. pic.twitter.com/k9gahUXaSp
— Jessica Cail (@jess_cail) August 26, 2015
Kylie Jenner posted a photobooth pic last night from the party:
Redditor DownHomeGroove had something to say about the Kardashians: "The waking up the entire westside just because explains that out of touch with the rest of the world part."Here are some more videos of the fireworks show:
Best fireworks show ever off a boat in Marina del Rey...on Aug 26?! Thx for the show! pic.twitter.com/8UiX27U0Wk
— Cyndi Gallagher (@Gobruins27) August 26, 2015
Update 2:10 p.m.: Councilman Mike Bonin posted a Facebook message on his page about how he's going to get to the bottom of how this fireworks show was permitted:
At midnight last night, an enormous fireworks show in Santa Monica Bay woke up thousands of people in Marina Del Rey, Venice, Playa del Rey and elsewhere. This ridiculous, rude, and loud celebrity birthday bash woke up school children, scared pets, and rousted thousands of people from a good night's sleep. The City of Los Angeles did NOT permit this event, and had absolutely nothing to do with it. Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors, which overseas and operates the Marina, says they did not permit it either, and it was far enough into the bay to be outside their jurisdiction. We are checking to see if the US Coast Guard is responsible for allowing this, or if the event was unauthorized.
Disruptive celeb firework show that woke up thousands was NOT permitted by city or county. Checking if US Coast Guard did it. #stupidrude
— Mike Bonin (@mikebonin) August 26, 2015
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Dept. told the Santa Monica Mirror that Kardashian did secure a permit from the U.S. Coast Guard.
However, this is where things get a little murky. U.S. Coast Guard Senior Chief Brenda Doris tells LAist they didn't issue a fireworks permit for the party. She says that they did receive notification that Kardashian wanted to hold the event with a fireworks show, and that the U.S. Coast Guard only reviews the request based on safety concerns. They reviewed the boat from a safety perspective, and since it was not a large enough party to meet their required threshold for needing a permit, nor would it be in the way navigation channels or shipping lanes, it didn't require a marine event permit. Doris says the U.S. Coast Guard doesn't oversee the time or date of the event or if the noise from the fireworks would violate the area's legislation. Kardashian would have had to contact the local jurisdiction about that, though Doris says she doesn't know if she would have had to go through the Marina del Rey Sherriff's department. It's a gray area because it took place outside of the harbor, which means it might not have fallen under the sheriff's department jurisdiction.
