Fireworks celebration in downtown Walnut Creek sparks fear in local residents

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- A fireworks show to mark the grand opening of a new mall caught some Walnut Creek residents off guard on Thursday night.

It happened after 9 p.m. at the Broadway Plaza in downtown.

It was certainly a rare sight in the skies above Walnut Creek - a full-blown fireworks show launched from the top of two buildings at the plaza.

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It was an explosive finale to a larger party and concert to celebrate the newly-remodeled mall's grand opening.

Many residents did not know about the scheduled fireworks show.

Devin Durvorow knew about the fireworks ahead of time, but his father-in-law didn't.

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"He called us up worried that Walnut Creek was under attack or something," explained Durvorow.

"I immediately identified it as fireworks. I thought it had something to do with the 49ers-San Diego game," explained Peggy Harrington, who lives just above Broadway Plaza.

Walnut Creek police did put out a Nixle alert to calm any fears, but only after the fireworks started.

Macerich, which owns Broadway Plaza, did not return our calls for comment, nor did the City of Walnut Creek or its police department.

The Contra Costa fire marshal says the fireworks were fully permitted and the law doesn't require any prior notice to residents.