Home catches fire
In general, any firework that goes up in the air or explodes is illegal for consumers to buy or use in Florida.
Two men had life-changing injuries and a third was burned after using fireworks during Independence Day celebrations in Broward County, authorities said. Also, fireworks were being blamed for fire damage to homes in Lauderhill and Pembroke Park.
The state fire marshal’s bureau of fire, arson and explosives is investigating the injuries.
In Pompano Beach, a man told paramedics he was holding an explosive, possibly an M-80, when a friend lit it. One man lost five fingers off one hand and one of his eyes was injured, spokeswoman Sandra King said. His friend burned his hands.
The men are Geoffrey Burton and Drew Johnson, both 29, the Broward Sheriff ’s Office said.
The accident happened at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 2400 block of Northwest Ninth Street. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue took the men to Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach, King said.
As midnight approached in the 5400 block of Northwest 24th Court in Lauderhill, a man in his 20s suffered a partial amputation of his hand, Lauderhill Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Jeff Levy said.
“Witnesses said it was a cherry bomb. He was in serious condition, and also had hand and chest burns,” Levy said.
The injured man’s name was not released.
Also in Lauderhill, a home in the 800 block of Northwest 36th Avenue that was being renovated caught fire.
“Fireworks being shot off in the area may have dropped into the open roof,” Levy said. “There was significant damage. No one was injured, and the house was vacant.”
On Thursday, children in Pembroke Park playing with leftover fireworks ignited a couch that was outside a home that was being renovated, said Michael Kane, battalion chief of Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.
The residence, in the 3000 block of Southwest 37th Avenue, was vacant. No one was injured in the fire, which was reported by a neighbor, Kane said.
Levy, from Lauderhill, said that any firework that goes up in the air or explodes is illegal for consumers to buy or use in Florida.
Joseph Steadman, bureau chief for the State Fire Marshal’s bureau of fire, arson and explosives, said the agency is investigating the injuries that happened in Pompano Beach and Lauderhill.
In general, he said, using illegal fireworks is a misdemeanor offense and the bureau usually consults with the state attorney’s office about whether to file charges.
“We caution and encourage anyone, whether on July Fourth or New Year’s Eve, to only attend a professional fireworks display, because fireworks do cause injuries,” Steadman said.