28 Hurt in California as Fireworks Shoot Into Crowd

By Nick Chiles | Published on July 5, 2013

A malfunction at a fireworks celebration in Simi Valley, California, last night resulted in fireworks shooting into the crowd instead of in the air, injuring 28 people who suffered minor to severe injuries.

Authorities said today that the malfunction was caused when at least one pyrotechnic device prematurely detonated in its mortar and caused a chain reaction that tipped over other pyrotechnics and launched them into the crowd of spectators.

The accident occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m. at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, where an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people were gathered to watch the professional fireworks display.

The group of live canisters fell over like “dominoes,” said Simi Valley police Cmdr. Blair Summey, with one or more of them firing into the crowd of spectators, the closest of whom were about 800 feet away.

“These things were coming through low. They were skipping along the ground,” Summey said. “Some of these projectiles, they were exploding as they were coming out of the canisters.”

Police said the 28 victims ranged in age from 8 to 78 years old with 4 suffering serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Summey said one police officer was also struck in the back by a projectile that cut the leather on his belt.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified and will also investigate the incident.

The show was sponsored by the Rotary Club and the fireworks were conducted by Bay Fireworks, a New York-based company that has produced events for Walt Disney World, NASA and the Republican National Convention.

Bay Fireworks said it had no immediate comment.

“There was a big boom. Everybody started running down the street. People were screaming,” said Justice Allen, 17, of Simi Valley. “Everybody was just terrified. People hid in bushes.”

Another witness, Annisa Wynn, told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that the explosion occurred about two minutes into the show. She said the fireworks suddenly began shooting sideways along the ground into the crowd instead of up in the air.

“The fireworks were so close, you could see them on the ground,” Wynn said. “It never happens this way. People were screaming.”

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