'F' Is for Fourth and Fog --
No! We Meant Fireworks!

See? The view's just fine!

​The words of the day on Monday, July 4, each begin with "F." The first is fireworks (natch). We can't think of anything more affixed to Independence Day than fireworks. Unless, of course, you're in San Francisco. Which you are (of course). Which brings us to the second word: fog. We get a lot of that fluffy stuff around here, especially in the summer. Which forces the third word: fear. We fear the fog during fireworks on the Fourth. But is that fear founded? Ask pyrotechnic show producer Jeff Thomas, and he says "Not fully." He works for Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, the company behind the City of San Francisco fireworks display Monday night at Aquatic Park.

Thomas speaks of a ferocious show, with some 10,000 devices fired along the waterfront for a full 20 minutes. Patterns include flowers (chrysanthemums, dahlias, peonies) as well as faces (smiley), hearts, rings, and stars. The flashes are timed to well-known American songs, so you're sure to reach a fervor that's flat-out federal, having forgotten your fear.

Thomas says the fiercest of the flares rises 1,000 feet and produces quite a fracas. But if it is foggy, other devices make fun fiery patterns at 600 feet, 500 feet, and 200 feet, so all won't be foregone or forgotten. Thomas (who has worked this show, well, almost forever) says he remembers only one night when fog fully forestalled the fireworks, but he's seen many nights that were fine and fair, when you could see far.

Our final word? We hope there's no fog, but if it does come forth, don't be flustered because these fireworks are too fabulous to be flummoxed.

The City of San Francisco fireworks display starts at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 4, at Aquatic Park, Hyde (at Beach). Admission is free.