Chaos on Beach as Industrial Fireworks Intended for Massive Display Ignite at Once, Area Closed and Investigation Now Underway
A massive explosion erupted Sunday morning along a Maryland beach as fireworks ignited during show preparations.
At least one worker setting up the fireworks was injured, according to WBAL-TV.
As a result, the town of Ocean City canceled its fireworks shows planned for Sunday evening.
“Ocean City Fire Marshals are continuing safety inspections at each firework location after the unintended discharge of fireworks on the beach this morning. At this time, the cause of the fireworks discharge is unknown,” the town said in a post on its Facebook page.
“A perimeter around the fireworks site has been established and will remain in place until the safety inspections are complete, which could take several days. At this time, areas of the Boardwalk have also been closed to pedestrian traffic until a thorough safety inspection has been completed,” it said.
“Due to an abundance of caution, all firework shows in Ocean City have been canceled.”
Although two shows were scheduled in separate places, both were canceled.
Videos of the fireworks igniting were posted to Twitter:
No fireworks in Ocean city MD tonight…. pic.twitter.com/i0QHU7Sk96
— natalie (@natasaurus08) July 4, 2021
WATCH: Truck filled with fireworks explodes in Ocean City, Maryland pic.twitter.com/Qj1IuVm6Mf
— BNO News (@BNONews) July 4, 2021
Fireworks in Ocean City, Maryland, exploded prematurely as workers prepared for the show.
Employees of the fireworks company received minor injuries and refused transport to the hospital.pic.twitter.com/NhKxEJk9Wk
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 4, 2021
The Ocean City Fire Department said in a post on its Facebook page that it was initially called to the beach for a vehicle fire.
“Firefighters arrived to find that no vehicle was on fire; however, there was an unintentional discharge of fireworks that were being set up on the beach for the town’s fireworks show,” the fire department said.
Employees of the fireworks company suffered minor injuries but refused hospitalization, the post said.
No one along the beach or boardwalk was injured.
“Our fire marshals are on the scene and will investigate the cause of the unintentional discharge,” Ocean City Fire Chief Richie Bowers said.
“Prior to the fireworks being off loaded from the vehicle, fire marshals secure a safe zone around the fireworks and put other safety protocols in place. It is this very zone and safety protocols that kept anyone else from being injured,” he said.
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