"Everything Exploded": Fireworks Mishap Hurts Dozens
Witnesses recall what they heard, saw and felt when fireworks exploded incorrectly at a Simi Valley park. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News.
Fourth of July celebrants were injured Thursday night when fireworks exploded into a crowd at a Southern California park after what authorities said is likely an accident involving one of the launching station.
Caught on Video: Spectator's View of Explosion
Simi Valley authorities called the detonation a "fireworks mishap," and it appeared that a platform to hold the fireworks had given way. At least one of the firework launching stations fell over after the contents were ignited, according to a Simi Valley Police Department statement.
"Although it is still unknown why the launching station fell over, there are no indications of foul play and it appears that this is an industrial type accident," the statement continued, adding that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal OSHA) was notified.
"That one row, all of the fireworks went off," said witness James Wilhite. "They were actually aiming at us."
Twenty-eight victims -- ranging in age from 8 to 78 years old -- were injured. Eight people were treated at the scene. Others were hospitalized, four with serious injuries such as burns and cuts.
Those hurt ranged from young children to the elderly, with injuries that included burns and cuts from flying debris, and some broken bones, Ventura County Fire Department officials told NBC News early Friday. None of the injuries were life threatening.
Between 8,000 and 10,000 people had been expected to attend the Independence Day celebration Thursday night. The crowd was kept at least 350 feet from the fireworks mortars, the distance required by fire code, Lindbery told NBC News.
Bay Fireworks, the company that set up the show, released a statement Friday morning: "Bay Fireworks deeply regrets that people wre injured during the Simi Valley fireworks display. Public safety has always been a major priority of Bay Fireworks. The highly qualified staff of Bay Fireworks is trained on a regular basis in the procedures to properly set up and discharge a fireworks display. Our equipment has been inspected and approved by authorities. Our displays, like the one in Simi Valley, are properly permitted through the local authorities."
Witnesses said the professional fireworks show lasted just a few minutes before the huge explosion went off.
"We saw about three minutes of the show. There was some that went up in the area and everything just kind of scattered outwards and then everybody just started running," a witness told NBC4.
"Everything exploded and parts came flying everywhere," another witness told NBC4. "People were running everywhere. So, it was pretty scary."
It happened about 9:20 p.m. at Rancho Santa Susana Community Center and Park (map), said Cmdr. John Parks, a watch commander for the Simi Valley Police Department.
Parks called the detonation a "fireworks mishap." He said initial information suggested the explosion was accidental.
Emergency medical and fire personnel were already at the park to monitor the fireworks show, so the victims were attended to quickly, Parks said.
Initial injury counts reported 20 people were hurt then that figure was revised to 14 before Lindbery detailed that 28 were hurt in the explosion.
Most of the fireworks were not launched and remained in their mortars unexploded, he told NBC News. Debris remained scattered on the field early Friday as authorities continued the investigation. The area was blocked off as crews removed unexploded ordnance.
The park was evacuated after the blast, Parks said. Aerial footage showed dozens of people lingering on the outskirts of the scene and near the triage area set up on the grass, pictured below.
Simi Valley is located about 41 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
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