Alderman Burke Labels Chicago Fire Festival A 'Fiasco'

(CBS) -- The Chicago City Council's most powerful alderman has labeled the fizzled Chicago Fire Festival the "fiasco on the river" and he wants to total up the losses, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

City Council Finance Chairman Edward Burke says he wasn't along the riverwalk this weekend but from what he has read about floating structures failing to ignite the way they were supposed to and disappointed crowds, the Great Chicago Fire Festival was a "fiasco."

"Because they couldn't display what they promised the viewers they were going to display and one would think to celebrate the 143rd anniversary of one of the most significant events in Chicago's history, there ought to be a better way of doing that," Burke said.

The city spent at least $200,000 on the fest put on by the Redmoon Theater Company. Alderman Burke wants a full accounting and says perhaps the money could have been better used by the Greater Chicago Food Depository or some other charitable endeavor.