Incidents marred 4th of July celebrations across the United States as four fireworks displays turned into disasters, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities.
In Park Township, Michigan, a domestic fireworks display ended in tragedy. A 43-year-old woman lost her life and nine others were left with injuries. The incident also caused property and vehicle damage. While the probe into the explosion’s cause continues, officials have not yet found a conclusive answer.
At a public celebration in Allegan City, Michigan, a firework misfire led to minor injuries in the crowd. A child also ended up in the hospital due to the incident.
A man from Cary, Illinois, aged 58, suffered serious injuries when a commercial-grade rocket exploded close to his face. Officials are now weighing the possibility of criminal charges, as the use of such fireworks requires a permit.
Another incident in northeast Texas saw a life lost and four people injured during a firework explosion at an event setup. Preliminary investigations have ruled out any foul play.
Emphasizing the importance of safety during celebrations, Alex Hoehn-Saric, Chair of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), shared last year’s data which showed 10,200 firework-related injuries in the US, 11 of which were fatal. Notably, 73 percent of these occurred around July 4th.
In light of these events, the CPSC advises people to stick to consumer-grade fireworks labeled for public use or to leave the fireworks to experts. Adequate safety measures include keeping children at a safe distance, having a water source nearby, and refraining from handling fireworks while intoxicated.