Fireworks at a Hawaii home caused a deadly explosion, killing at least three | Crime news

The state's governor and Honolulu's mayor vowed to crack down on illegal fireworks after the explosion.

An explosion caused by fireworks has killed at least three people in a residential neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii, marking a tragic start to the new year on the island of Oahu. Two were pronounced dead at the scene.

The explosion occurred shortly after midnight local time (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday as revelers celebrated the arrival of the New Year. About 20 others were injured.

The explosion went off inside a house, and drone footage of the blast showed a flurry of fireworks erupting in a plume of smoke against the night sky.

Jim Ireland, director of Honolulu EMS, said he saw multiple burns and “blast-type injuries” when he arrived at the scene, including shrapnel.

“I've worked in EMS (emergency medical services) for over 30 years and this is probably the worst call I've ever been on, just in terms of the sheer tragedy and the number of patients and the severity of the injuries,” Ireland said. .

He explained that the injuries required a “massive response”. The Irish Department deployed 10 ambulances and he noted the presence of ambulances from the Federal Fire Service.

The explosion occurred not far from a joint US Air Force and Navy base. Fire trucks from nearby Pearl Harbor responded to the scene.

At a press conference, Justin Brownfield, a spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said his agency also sent eight units and two battalion chiefs. He described “enormous remains” at the site.

“The initial crews on scene encountered dozens of casualties, including many who were critical,” Ireland said, describing his initial impressions of the scene.

The US government often warns about the risks associated with the amateur use of fireworks during the holiday season.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, a government agency, reports that eight deaths and approximately 9,700 injuries were attributed to the use of fireworks in 2023 alone.

No details have been released about the cause of Wednesday's fireworks explosion in Honolulu.

But Hawaii Gov. Josh Green urged the use of unauthorized fireworks in statement responding to the blast.

Consider using aerial fireworks as well as ground fireworks such as sparklers and fountains illegal in Oahu.

“Because combating illegal fireworks was a priority, we created the Illegal Fireworks Task Force last year to identify and disrupt supply chains,” Gov. Green said in a statement Wednesday.

“To date, it has seized 227,000 pounds (103,000 kg) of illegal fireworks, but incidents like this remind us of the ongoing challenges we face.”

The mayor of Honolulu, Rick Blangiardi, also issued a press release to local media promising to impose tougher penalties on those who use fireworks illegally.

“This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks that put lives at risk, drain our first responder resources and disrupt our communities,” Blandgiardi said in the statement.

“Year after year, a minority of people recklessly endanger us all. This is absurd and unacceptable. My administration remains committed to working with federal and state agencies to stop this illegal fireworks trade once and for all.