Fireworks went off Sunday at Maryland’s Ocean City Beach, injuring a worker who was setting up for a July 4 celebration.
Videos of the explosion appeared on Twitter at approximately 10:30 a.m.. including one from Gilly Gene, who was at the beach and saw the incident.
In a Facebook post, the Ocean City Fire Department said it was notified of a vehicle fire at Dorchester Street and the beach.
However, firefighters arrived at the scene to find no vehicle on fire but “an unintentional discharge of fireworks that were being set up on the beach for the Town’s fireworks show,” the department explained.
The post included photos of emergency crews and vehicles at the scene:
“During the unintentional discharge, employees of the fireworks company received minor injuries and refused transport to the hospital by Ocean City Paramedics. No beach or boardwalk patrons were injured,” the fire department continued.
According to Fire Chief Richie Bowers, fire marshals were on the scene and investigating the initial cause of the discharge.
“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. It is this very zone and safety protocols that kept anyone else from being injured,” he noted.
According to WBAL, a fireworks show was scheduled for later in the day for July Fourth celebrations near North Division Street and the Boardwalk.
Meanwhile, Americans are still expected to honor the nation’s 245th birthday with numerous fireworks displays to celebrate patriotism and freedom, Breitbart News reported.