A major fireworks-related incident on Thursday, July 4, left 14 people injured, prompting the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office (DNSO) to classify it as a mass casualty incident.
The incident occurred around 10:25 p.m. during Fourth of July celebrations. According to the DNSO, all 14 individuals were treated and released from Sutter Coast Hospital, except for one child flown out of the area in serious condition.
The child, a three-year-old boy, was reportedly struck by a mortar, causing severe injuries. Family member SuZanna Church described the harrowing moments following the explosion, noting that the boy’s lung collapsed and his heart stopped beating for 30 minutes.
“My sister grabbed my nephew and another child nearby and ran behind a car for safety,” Church said. “Police arrived quickly, and my sister was able to get help from an officer, leading to an ambulance transporting them to the hospital.”
The three-year-old airlifted to a hospital in Oregon, has had severe lung damage. Church also mentioned that the boy suffered burns both inside and outside his body and may need surgery.
Witness Joel Berryman emphasized the importance of safety when handling fireworks.
“If you are going to be doing high-level fireworks, make sure you are in an area where, if anything goes sideways, you won’t impact other people who are just there to have a good time,” he said.
The explosion occurred in a crowded area where many people were watching fireworks but was unrelated to Crescent City’s official fireworks display. The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office has launched a criminal investigation and has urged anyone with information to come forward.
Public Information Officer Kyle Stevens spoke of the dangers of illegal fireworks.
“We remind everyone that it is illegal to sell, transport, or use fireworks that do not carry the Safe and Sane seal in California,” Stevens said. “These fireworks were definitely not Safe and Sane and are illegal in the state.”
Church has established a GoFundMe page for her nephew at gofund.me/a03482a6d.
Following the incident, the DNSO seized many illegal fireworks from celebrants. While there have been no arrests, the investigation continues.
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