Fireworks Canceled In Ocean City Amid Investigation

OCEAN CITY, MD — After fireworks exploded Sunday morning on the beach, Ocean City officials say they are modifying some activities for the Fourth of July and possibly the days ahead.

During setup for Ocean City's downtown July 4 fireworks show, some of the fireworks accidentally detonated Sunday morning off Dorchester Street, according to the Ocean City Fire Department.

The fireworks had been set to go off at 9:30 p.m. Sunday in two locations in Ocean City, on the beach at North Division Street and uptown at Northside Park.

Ocean City fire marshals say they are conducting safety inspections at both locations where the fireworks had been set to go off, both uptown and downtown, after the accidental firing.

"Due to an abundance of caution, all firework shows in Ocean City have been canceled," officials said.

An employee of the fireworks company setting up for the 4th of July festivities suffered minor injuries in the explosion on Dorchester Street, according to WBAL.

Parts of the Boardwalk have been closed to pedestrians "until a thorough safety inspection has been completed," according to a statement issued by the town of Ocean City Sunday afternoon.

"A perimeter around the fireworks site has been established and will remain in place until the safety inspections are complete, which could take several days," officials said.

As of Sunday afternoon, authorities said the cause of the accidental explosion Sunday morning remains unknown.

A new date was not provided after the Fourth of July fireworks shows were canceled.

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Related: Fireworks Blow Up Unintentionally On Ocean City Beach, 1 Injured