Overview
- The Golden Gate Bridge fired the city’s rare July 4 fireworks that drew about 100,000 people but much of the 15‑minute show was obscured by coastal fog and produced an intense post‑show exodus that clogged the Presidio and waterfront.
- San Francisco emergency crews handled an unusually large volume of incidents after the display, logging more than 500 calls, battling multiple spot fires, and containing a small Telegraph Hill wildfire with no reported structural damage or fatalities.
- Dozens of Waymo robotaxis were stalled in the post‑show gridlock, several ran out of battery while idling and required towing, one unoccupied vehicle ignited after driving over a firework, and at least one occupied car ran over a lit firework that frightened riders but caused no injuries.
- Waymo says it was not notified of some Presidio road closures before the event, a communication gap that company and city officials say hampered the company’s response and complicated roadside assistance and towing operations.
- City agencies, the Presidio Trust and Waymo will debrief and review planning, notification and contingency protocols for future large events, a process that could change how ride‑hail drop‑off zones, road closures and remote assistance for autonomous fleets are managed.