10 Injured at Fireworks Mishaps in D.C. and Virginia
Three people have been injured after a fireworks mishap following the annual Independence Day display on the National Mall. At another fireworks display, in Vienna, Virginia, at least 7 people have been hurt.
9News Now photographer Ryan Hunter and reporter Nancy Yamada were at the Vienna fireworks display when the problem occurred near the finale of the show. On the videotape Hunter shot, you can see fireworks shooting across the ground toward the crowd while other fireworks make it into the air. You are also able to see what appear to be workers handling the display running with flares in their hands toward where the shells are firing across the ground.
Among the injured seen on the tape are children. There were 5 children and two adults hurt, according to Fairfax County Fire & Rescue officials. The injuries were considered serious for one of the children and one of the adults. This includes the adult who was flown by helicopter to the burn unit at the Washington Hospital Center. The others were taken by ground to Inova Fairfax Hospital.
The fireworks in Vienna were provided by Schaefer Pyrotechnics, Inc. of Ronks, Pennsylvania. STATter 911 has learned that Schaefer was involved in a July 4th, 2004 incident in Pittson, Pennsylvania. The company was fined $8100 by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after at least 24 people were hurt. That mishap was blamed on a faulty explosive. OSHA discovered 7 violations. More details can be found in this 2005 article from the Times-Tribune of Scranton.
Schaefer also provided fireworks last night at a second location in Vienna, the Westwood Country Club.
STATter 911 contacted Schaefer Pyrotechnics and was told there would be no comment about the incident in Vienna or the previous problem in Pittston.
A short time after the Vienna incident, STATter 911 received a call from a police officer on the Mall. He heard what sounded like three explosions after the main fireworks event was over. The police officer, who asked not to be identified, then saw ambulances moving toward the area near Constitution Gardens where the shells had been fired for the show.
Video from 9News Now photographer James Hash shows one walking wounded with an apparent arm injury and another person in an ambulance. U.S. Park Police spokesman Sgt. Robert Lachance reports the three people hurt are employees of the fireworks production company.
Sgt. Lachance writes in a press release that the three were men working in the firepit after the show when unused fireworks exploded. One of the men, suffering from serious burns, was flown by U.S. Park Police Eagle 1 to the Washington Hospital Center. Another victim went by ambulance to the hospital and the third was treated and released on the scene.
After this mishap, the perimeter around the fireworks pit was extended just in case any other unexploded shells suddenly fired. Crews from D.C. Fire & EMS helped make sure the area was safe.
9News Now reporter Doug Buchanan says Pyro Shows of LaFollette, Tennessee handled this year's display at the National Mall.
