Iowa Fireworks Display Injures 12

Accident One Of Several Across Country In Which Fireworks Cause Injuries To Launchers And Spectators Alike

(AP)  An accident during a municipal Fourth of July fireworks display injured at least a dozen people, local fire officials said.

Most of the victims suffered minor injuries.

The Charles City Fire Department said the accident occurred when ground level fireworks were exploding Friday night. Witnesses said a fireball veered into the crowd of spectators.

Elsewhere, police in Riverside, Ohio, said a man lost part of his leg when fireworks went off inside his parked SUV, blowing the windows out of the vehicle.

A 6-year-old girl in Bayville, N.Y., suffered second-degree burns when fireworks landed in her lap, police said.

Investigators said it wasn't immediately clear who launched the fireworks but said the child wasn't at a public pyrotechnics display.

At Port Huron, Mich., a 51-year-old man was critically injured when he was struck in face by a mortar-type firework while several were setting off illegal fireworks at a home, the St. Clair County sheriff's department said.

Officers said the man was placing the firework in a tube when it ignited.

[dowjones20k]

It is ashame that folks are hurt dueing celebrations like these ...

With 300 million + in this country we will have accidents .. some of these appear to be self inflicted, but no mention of alcohol being involved in any of the incidents ..

Some states have banned fireworks alltogether .. once again a situation where the government knows best in our so called free country ..

Have a wonderful holiday weekend .. be safe and watch those fireworks !!!

[nothappyatall]

I think it''s time to dump this foolishness, if the injuries that happen every year aren''t enough, and the fires cause by these things being blown up in July when it''s typically the height of fire seasons is insanity. With this krap being made in CHINA and elsewhere, it''s no wonder a high percentage fail or malfunction. Fine hting, celebrate independence day by buying CHINESE fireworks, gezus the irony there is thick!

" a 51-year-old man was critically injured when he was struck in face by a mortar-type firework while several were setting off illegal fireworks
Officers said the man was placing the firework in a tube when it ignited."

LOL what a dork, maybe NOW he understands exactly WHY those are illegal!

[imaok1]

Yeah... we better ban cars too... THOUSANDS of people die in them every year.

People who use/view fireworks know the risks, and for as many people who set them off every year, the injury count is minimal. If you don''t want to play, great, but don''t tell me I can''t.

[blackyowe]

Lets not forget we are dealing with gun power here. No one should ever take for granted Fireworks are safe.

[rmlivingood]

WOW!! Talk about judgemental. Here are some facts. The fireworks in Charles City were being handled by people who know how to handle them. A canister fell over and shot across the ground. Alcohol was not an issue. A fire engine and an ambulance were on site as were many police officers -- all normal for every fireworks display Charles City has had. There is an investigation into the incident but I am confident it will be ruled an accident NOT negligence. How do I know all this??? I was there.

[griking]

So let me get this straight, fireworks are illegal to have because they''re way too dangerous...but guns are just fine?

[p51driver]

Make fireworks legal, but do not allow any law suits when these people injure themselves. And don''t make insurance cover the injuries. And if they don''t have the ca$h in hand, don''t allow them into the ER! Simple!

[latrocinor-2009]

So let me get this straight, fireworks are illegal to have because they''''re way too dangerous...but guns are just fine?

Posted by Griking
.... .. ..

Not the brightest sparkler in the bunch, are you?

[twohares]

Keep fireworks legal.
The professional displays that result in any type of mishap are few and far between.
But the VAST majority of "home" displays are virtually always due to unsafe handling, alcohol, or just sheer stupidity.
Yeah, a mortar round ignited in the tube. Because you put a new round in while the tube was still hot or you failed to dump the smoldering ember that sometimes remains from the previous shot which spontaneously ignites the fuse of the next round. Use your head, folks! Don''t be stupid and ruin it for the rest of us responsible people who will probably remain OFF the Darwin Award list.
I suppose cars should be left to "professional drivers" and baseball bats should never be in the hands of unlicensed individuals. They, too, kill people.
Morons.

[whiskyrocker]

So a few people get hurt during a fireworks display. I guess we better ban all 4th of July fireworks now.Big deal

[arrestbush1]

Fireworks are the very product for celebrating freedom and they make that illegal. It shouldn''t be illegal in any states.

[standncount]

NOT negligence. How do I know all this??? I was there.

Posted by rmlivingood

Actually it is negligence. They failed to properly secure the canister to which the mortar would be fired from. Sorry, but it is the truth. Lawsuits pending....

[standncount]

All fireworks are dangerous if improperly handled. They should all be banned except for professionals who
do pyrotecnic events for a living. They usually are also the people who manufacture the displays, and the fireworks. Leave it to the experts to do them. Doug

Posted by az97202

Oh so you are saying the pyrotechics crew who set a deadly blaze at a R.I nightclub where "professional and should be the only ones to handle this stuff?" Do us a favor and leave fireworks alone. We''ll handle them just fine.

[irliberal]

You don''t need personal fireworks to demonstrate your patriotism or celebrate any holiday. Go to the public displays your city puts on, those are generally safe.

If you think you need to personally light combustible/explosive materials in order to display your patriotism, then you probably voted for GW Bush. The mindset fits. All image, no substance.

[idnnsg]

Someone said, "Fireworks are the very product for celebrating freedom ..."

Fireworks were invented by the Chinese. Why are Americans, who generally despise cheap Chinese doodads, celebrating "freedom" with Chinese inventions?

And why do so many "freedom loving Americans" revel in their guns, which would be useless paperweights without that other Chinese invention, gunpowder?

We should celebrate the 4th of July with genuine American products, like blue jeans and peanut butter!

[offtheback]

Ya play with fire...

Bunch of farggin morons.

[element51]

Public displays of fireworks, done by professionals in a safe environment are fine. But I strongly object to the sale of fireworks to the general public. Most cities have laws banning the use of fireworks inside the city limits but those laws are meaningless. Last year we had to put out a fire on our roof caused by someone shooting of fireworks. Our dogs just go nuts from the explosions and it is annoying to have to listen to it too. There are many more injuries than you might think. I knew a kid who was at the lake, was not playing with fireworks and turned around and was hit in the eye by a bottle rocket. His eye was destroyed. A little girl who was playing with a sparkler when her clothes caught on fire and she was severly burned. It''s time to give this some intelligent thought and stop selling fireworks to the general public.

[grammawhamma]

I''m sure more people got killed and injured driving to and from the firework displays.

[whiskyrocker]

jboxton suks

[jboxton]

Hahahaha...with a name like whiskyrocker I can only guess that you are from the west or the south (both areas are uneducated so they are interchangable to me). Did my comment hit a little too close to home? Prove me wrong. What''s 1 + 1?

[scurbiedog]

Iowa= Idiots out wondering around.

[cyberdjs4]

@IDNNSG:
"Fireworks were invented by the Chinese. Why are Americans, who generally despise cheap Chinese doodads, celebrating "freedom" with Chinese inventions?"

Because Americans are ignorant when it comes to knowing where products are made.
We always assume a product with an American name is American-made.

How much of your iPod is Chinese-built?
Crack it open (if you can) and find out.

What about your computer? It doesn''t matter who makes it?
Open that up and see how many Chinese-built parts are in it.

Ignorance Is Bliss is more than a saying; its a way of life.

[whiskyrocker]

jcockston:

Let me guess your a pole smoker from the east coast.

[whiskyrocker]

Jboxton

Must not be able to respond. Probably has his mouth full.

[swwils]

I am just glad these so called trained fire,and explosive experts aren''t in a military explosive or EOD unit.Somebody always blows up the wrong stuff creating total kaos!We shouldn''t be wasting city,and Government money on fireworks reguardless of the 4th we have Troops who can''t even call home because of crazy over billing of cell phones and such.SPEND the money on the soldiers!!!

[swwils]

The Billion plus dollars that was actually blown up on this holiday was rediculous.We are at war,and our military are doing without a lot of life saving equipment.We need to get our priorities straight!I am a patriot but I don''t think what I saw and read about all the injuries during fireworks exibitions was really worth it,most don''t even know the true meaning of the 4th,don''t believe me stop some kid on the street and ask them!

[sistatee-2009]

All that smoke must be bad for the ozone.

[akpals]

Why do the minor injuries of 12 people get media attention? Who cares?? Isn''t there anything more important going on in the US today?

[mark46n]

Not surprising happens every year, moving on Go Rays.

[standncount]

"Fireworks were invented by the Chinese. Why are Americans, who generally despise cheap Chinese doodads, celebrating "freedom" with Chinese inventions?"

Because Americans are ignorant when it comes to knowing where products are made.
We always assume a product with an American name is American-made.

How much of your iPod is Chinese-built?
Crack it open (if you can) and find out.

What about your computer? It doesn''''t matter who makes it?
Open that up and see how many Chinese-built parts are in it.

Ignorance Is Bliss is more than a saying; its a way of life.

Posted by cyberDJs4

So... Where is all your stuff made??? Hmmm, Ignorants is bliss isn''t it?

[ryhobes]

Just like to say i was across the river from this happening, and no it is not huge national news. This picture is only the start of it. Shells shot into the audience on the bridge and the crowd where i was. I have a video of it which can be found on youtube. I was dead center and just like to add that its about 40 people injured now and not 12. Im not here to argue what so ever, just to inform. thanks.

[usmcvn1]

Fireworks don''t hurt people, people hurt their own dumb azz''s.

[bubbabear200]

I remember a few years back in a Milwaukee bar a dude lit the fuse of a M80 and then tried to blow it out.
After the bang he was a missin 3 fingers and he got blood in my pitcher of Miller Lite. I said the hell with it and still drank my beer.

[sistatee-2009]

After the bang he was a missin 3 fingers and he got blood in my pitcher of Miller Lite. I said the hell with it and still drank my beer.

Posted by Bubbabear200 at 11:40 PM : Jul 05, 2008

With Miller Lite, mix plasma not whole blood.

[keithle1]

See one fireworks display, you''ve seen ''em all.

[ioweign]

Iowa= Idiots out wondering around.

Posted by scurbiedog at 05:08 PM : Jul 05, 2008

Hey - We''ll have none of that !!!