Did confetti blow a transformer at a Florida graduation? In the end, new light found
The graduating class of Fort Walton Beach High School had an electrifying ceremony on the football field of Steve Riggs Stadium in Florida’s Panhandle.
This is not, however, a review of Wednesday night’s jubilant festivities except, perhaps, to quote from a “Grease” classic song, it was “electrifying.” Apparently there was so much energy that a transformer blew right as seniors were covered with confetti.
The blown transformer that powered the ceremony momentarily plunged the teens, parents, grandparents and school officials into darkness until the grads and guests improvised, using cellphones to pierce the gloom, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported.
Much as those lent some flash to the proceedings for more than 30 minutes, it wasn’t until deputies from the Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office soon rolled onto the field in SUVs and flooded the stadium with spotlights so that the ceremonies could continue in (near) proper fashion.
“In the video, it looks like confetti of some sort was released which caused the issue. This happened about halfway through the diploma ceremony, according to School Board Member Tim Bryant,” deputies said in a social media post on Facebook.
According to a report on WKRG News 5, one of the graduating student’s grandmother, Kathy Lares Buchanan, captured video of the transformer blowing up.
“I think everybody’s thoughts at first when it very first happened was there had been a firework explosion,” Buchanan told WKRG. “And then the lights went out but then you know the lights over at the baseball field came on and I think everybody realized what had happened.”
Buchanan told the station she thinks metallic confetti could have caused the transformer to blow, but officials have not confirmed the cause.
More likely, however, is stormy weather that had drenched the Fort Walton Beach area during graduation week. The rain let up in time for the Wednesday ceremonies but it’s possible storms helped blow out that transformer.
According to the National Weather Service, the Fort Walton Beach area has clear weather through the Memorial Day weekend and into next week. The only weather warning is ongoing rip currents through Friday afternoon. But these won’t require deputies’ lighting effects.
