Fireworks explosion in Yarmouth leaves man with 'traumatic' injuries as police warn of dangers

Yarmouth fireworks explosion leaves man with "traumatic" leg, hand injuries

FALMOUTH – Thousands of people came out ready to watch the fireworks in Falmouth, but the show got cancelled for the second day in a row until next year again because of foggy weather.

It comes as there are concerns about illegal fireworks and people getting hurt.

The beach was packed with a sea of red, white, and blue, but in the fireworks show they came to watch just couldn't take off.

"We brought our families, we come from an hour away and they cancel it," said Tieyae Houston. "It's not right, it's honestly not right, and I think the people of Falmouth, they deserve better."

Moments after the cancellation, people started firing off their own fireworks on the beach.

"People should be just waiting, playing it safe, not lighting off fireworks around all these people," said Ashley Gutierrez. "It's kind of scary that people just light them off whenever they want."  

The department sent an alert saying they've been dealing with unruly teenagers who were also shooting fireworks at each other and in the air.

First responders said an example of why that's dangerous happened a few towns away in Yarmouth when a Fourth of July neighborhood cookout went terribly wrong.

First responders said a 40-year-old man almost got killed, after using fireworks when they exploded. Neighbors told WBZ there were concerns the man hosting the get-together would lose his arm and leg. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Whether it's this year or next---the chief reminds people that following state law--prevents accidents.

"They're dangerous, they can lead to injuries and also fires in their homes, so we want to make sure that people leave those to the professionals," said Yarmouth Fire Chief Enrique Arrascue.

Elsewhere on the Cape, thousands came out to watch the fireworks in Falmouth on Wednesday but they were canceled for the second day in a row due to foggy weather.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are approximately 10,000 fireworks injuries per year treated at emergency departments.

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