Chez Chesler

5 hurt in PawSox fireworks blast - The Boston Globe - Boston.com - R.I. - News

The Pawtucket Red Sox canceled plans for Fourth of July fireworks at McCoy Stadium last night as a precaution after an explosion during Sunday's display slightly injured five employees of a pyrotechnic company. But Pawtucket fire and public safety officials urged the PawSox to cancel last night's fireworks until investigators could better understand why a fireworks shell exploded so close to the ground, setting off other fireworks prematurely. Pawtucket's ''public safety director, along with the fire chief and the police chief, thought it was best that we all sit back and analyze what happened before we rush into another show," said PawSox president Mike Tamburro. ''There are certainly plenty of other nights for fireworks." However, Tamburro stressed that he remains confident in Telstar's safety record, noting that the 26-year-old company has staged dozens of fireworks displays for the team over the last decade without injuries. ''This really might be a case of just a freak accident," he said. ''Sometimes it's freak accidents that cause the most problems." Telstar's Bergeron said the accident occurred midway through the show when a shell exploded either on takeoff or as it was falling back to the ground, sending a cascade of hot embers into fireworks that were supposed to be launched during the grand finale. Firefighters said one crate of fireworks tipped over, sending fireworks shooting toward a group of employees near the launch site, in a parking lot behind the right field wall.

Remember kids, always leave fireworks to the professionals to guarantee safety.