Fireworks Blow Up Unintentionally On Ocean City Beach, 1 Injured

OCEAN CITY, MD — At least one person was injured Sunday morning when fireworks detonated on the beach in Ocean City, WBAL reported. The confirmed wounded person is an employee of the fireworks company who was setting up for the 4th of July festivities on the beach near Dorchester Street, according to the report.

Several videos of the apparently unintentional fireworks' explosion appeared on Twitter shortly after. Reports that it was a truck full of fireworks that exploded were apparently untrue, according to a statement from the Ocean City Fire Department.

The fireworks were being set up on the Ocean City beach when the explosion occurred, the statement said.

"Prior to the fireworks being off loaded from the vehicle, fire marshals secure a safe zone around the fireworks and put other safety protocols in place," Ocean City Fire Chief Richie Bowers said in a statement. "It is this very zone and safety protocols that kept anyone else from being injured."

Several people can be heard reacting to the explosion in videos shared on Twitter.

So this just happened in Ocean City, MD. pic.twitter.com/B0djA8JxF7
— Gilly Gene (@GillyOfThe412) July 4, 2021

Ocean City police said no beach goers or boardwalk patrons were among the injured, according to WBAL.

All injuries were minor, the fire department said in its statement. No one was hospitalized.

The governor's office, Maryland State Police and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency said they were ready to offer assistance if needed in the aftermath of the explosion, according to a spokesman for Gov. Larry Hogan.

The Ocean City fireworks were set to go off in two locations at 9:30 p.m. for the Fourth of July but have since been canceled.

See Also:

• Fireworks Canceled In Ocean City Amid Investigation
• Maryland 4th Of July Fireworks Guide 2021