The Department of Health is deciding what kind of consequences the military will face, which could be anything from a warning, to a fine.
Smoke, flames and explosive booms could be seen and heard for miles.
"I was kind of wondering what happened and I thought somebody might have gotten hurt," said Amber Aduja, Windward Oahu resident.
Marine Corps Base Hawaii was rehearsing the Kaneohe Bay Air Show Wall of Fire pyrotechnics display. It’s an air show, featuring special effects that simulate bomb blasts and fires by detonating TNT and igniting about 4,000 gallons of gas.
But this rehearsal was done without warning, and without a permit.
"It can be not only a nuisance in the neighborhood but smoke and small particles of pollutants can cause real health impacts," said Gary Gill with the DOH.
Earlier this year, new rules were passed, banning open burning statewide.
"Anything that emits smoke, any kind of burning operation whether, it’s fireworks or burning something in a backyard," Gill said.
Although the military has the proper permit to do this, from Sept. 24-30, it did not have one for this past Saturday’s rehearsal.
In a statement, Marine Corps Base Hawaii says: "We take full responsibility for failing to notify the Clean Air Branch before the Sept. 8 pyrotechnic rehearsal."
Not having the proper permit could cost the military $10,000, which most of the residents we talked to, agree with.
"I mean if there was anyone else doing activities without a permit they would get fined as well so why is the military gonna get leniency," said Jason Durnin, Windward Oahu resident.
The military says it will conduct a final rehearsal for the Wall of Fire show on Saturday. The DOH is now amending the dates on the permit, to allow that.
The air show will be held on Sept. 28 for students and military personnel, and on Sept. 29 and 30 for the public.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
