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Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.PIO-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire
07/05/07
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to an errant fireworks mortar launch that landed in a crowd at approximately 9:45 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, 2007, injuring 11 spectators at a Town of Vienna fireworks display. The fireworks display was located at 128 Center Street, near the Vienna Elementary School.
Firefighters and paramedics responded within a minute to the injured, triaging, providing medical treatment, and transporting the injured. There were 11 injured; 7 were transported. One adult was medevaced to The Washington Hospital Burn Center. Six were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital. Two of the seven transported had potentially life-threatening injuries. Five of the seven transported were children. Four patients were treated at the scene. Schaefer Fireworks, Ronks, Pennsylvania, conducted the fireworks demonstration. The display was permitted, inspected, and approved by the Fairfax County Fire Marshal's Office. Three fire inspectors inspected the fireworks display twice on
July 4, 2007. All safety and operational requirements were met by Schaefer Fireworks. There were three fire inspectors on hand during the fireworks demonstration.
According to fire investigators, the mishap was accidental. A catastrophic failure occurred in a 25 round, 3-inch mortar. The mortar accidentally launched into the crowd at a low trajectory, injuring spectators.
For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raśl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.
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