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SALT LAKE CITY -
The Salt Lake City Fire Department is trying to determine what caused a malfunction that sent fireworks shooting into a crowd of people at a holiday celebration. Fire investigators say it may take time to figure out why fireworks launched into the crowd. It is one of three accidents involving fireworks this year. A similar accident happened in Provo at the Stadium of Fire and a third fire mishap happened in Pleasant Grove during their 4th of July celebration.
Provo Fire Chief Lynn Schofield said faulty firework are to blame for injuring at least six people at the stadium. "There was a malfunction in the shot prior to the shot that went into the crowd which caused the containment on the cake to break and the tubes to fall down," Schofield said.
Department spokesman Scott Freitag says at least 10 people were injured during the Pioneer Day fireworks display on Saturday at Liberty Park located at 1300 South and 800 East. The malfunction caused a Roman Candle to explode in its tube. Several other fireworks then fell over and went off.
"Anywhere from eight to 10 mortars then shot into the crowd in multiple directions," Freitag said.
Freitag said paramedics treated a total of 10 people for minor injuries and burns on the scene, including victim Bryan Demos who caught the malfunction on tape.
"I hid my face. I covered my face like that and it ricocheted and actually exploded. That's what made me fall back," Demos said.
He also said the scene was chaos.
"Everyone was running in mass hysteria and that's when I got trampled, someone stepped on my ankle," Demos said.
Demos suffered a broken ankle and a burn on his arm.
The company that ran the show, Lantis Fireworks, said the incident was a freak accident. The Salt Lake City Fire Department is investigating and said Lantis passed a launch site inspection on Thursday.
Salt Lake fire investigators say it can take weeks to find out what caused Saturday's firework mishap near Liberty Park. Spectators say there was a malfunction in a roman candle tube that caused other fireworks to fall over. Provo fire officials say their experience could help the investigation.
"Don't be surprised if I don't get on the phone and talk to Salt Lake City folks because there are from the reports that I've seen, I haven't seen everything, but there are some very interesting similarities," Schofield said.
FOX 13's Tamara Vaifanua reports.
Provo Fire Chief Lynn Schofield said faulty firework are to blame for injuring at least six people at the stadium. "There was a malfunction in the shot prior to the shot that went into the crowd which caused the containment on the cake to break and the tubes to fall down," Schofield said.
Department spokesman Scott Freitag says at least 10 people were injured during the Pioneer Day fireworks display on Saturday at Liberty Park located at 1300 South and 800 East. The malfunction caused a Roman Candle to explode in its tube. Several other fireworks then fell over and went off.
"Anywhere from eight to 10 mortars then shot into the crowd in multiple directions," Freitag said.
Freitag said paramedics treated a total of 10 people for minor injuries and burns on the scene, including victim Bryan Demos who caught the malfunction on tape.
"I hid my face. I covered my face like that and it ricocheted and actually exploded. That's what made me fall back," Demos said.
He also said the scene was chaos.
"Everyone was running in mass hysteria and that's when I got trampled, someone stepped on my ankle," Demos said.
Demos suffered a broken ankle and a burn on his arm.
The company that ran the show, Lantis Fireworks, said the incident was a freak accident. The Salt Lake City Fire Department is investigating and said Lantis passed a launch site inspection on Thursday.
Salt Lake fire investigators say it can take weeks to find out what caused Saturday's firework mishap near Liberty Park. Spectators say there was a malfunction in a roman candle tube that caused other fireworks to fall over. Provo fire officials say their experience could help the investigation.
"Don't be surprised if I don't get on the phone and talk to Salt Lake City folks because there are from the reports that I've seen, I haven't seen everything, but there are some very interesting similarities," Schofield said.
FOX 13's Tamara Vaifanua reports.
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