Bridgeview Fireworks Canceled After 1 Hurt In Accident
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Sunday night's fireworks show in southwest suburban Bridgeview has been canceled, after the fireworks display detonated prematurely while a contractor was preparing the show Sunday afternoon.
Bridgeview village spokesman Ray Hanania said, around 12:40 p.m., a contractor was loading a large fireworks ball into a tube, when apparently the friction caused a spark, setting off the explosive prematurely. Flames spread to the rest of the fireworks, setting them off.
"It was a lot of fireworks that exploded in a matter of a few minutes, so it was very intense" Hanania said.
Hanania said he could not provide a specific number of fireworks that were set off, but said it was about $12,000 worth, enough for a 20 to 25 minute show.
Neighbors described the series of explosions.
"I thought it was an earthquake. My house started shaking, but then it was like constant explosion; boom, boom, boom, boom," Sylvia Rabianski said. "It's unfortunate ... I know somebody got hurt, but luckily it wasn't bigger than what it was."
The contractor who accidentally set off the fireworks suffered several burns.
"The gentleman that was injured suffered second- and third-degree burns to his extremities, and some to his chest, and has first-degree burns to his face, " Bridgeview Fire Department Battalion Chief David Lis said.
That man's condition was not immediately available, but Hanania said his injuries were not life-threatening. Hanania said there was no other damage to the neighborhood or any nearby vehicles.
Four other people were nearby when the fireworks went off, but they were all doing okay. The explosions also set off a brush fire, which was extinguished.
"It's a good reminder to the public that even a firework professional loading fireworks -- these are people trained to do this -- and they have an accident; and it can happen -- imagine, if you're just a person in a neighborhood trying to put together fireworks for your kids or family -- how things can easily go wrong," he said. "It is a reminder that, even in professional hands, fireworks can be very dangerous."
Sunday night's fireworks, originally scheduled for 9:20 p.m., have been canceled. Hanania said officials will try to reschedule them for a later time.
