A bomb squad in Ocean City, Maryland, combed through damaged fireworks that exploded on the beach Sunday hours ahead of the annual fireworks display and safely detonate the remaining stock pile.
In an update Monday morning on its Facebook page, the Ocean City Fire Department said the resort town’s bomb squad, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office-Bomb Squad and the fireworks vendor “will begin evaluating fireworks damaged during yesterday’s accident to determine a course of action for safe removal and destruction.”
Later in the day, the fire department said the bomb squad would perform a control demolition of the remaining fireworks starting at 5:45 p.m. Local outlets confirmed that the remaining unexploded fireworks exploded just after 6:30 p.m.
Kaboom! @TownofOceanCity explodes remaining unexploded fireworks after yesterday’s mishap. pic.twitter.com/V3dpcA2gbC
— Brad Bell (@Brad7News) July 5, 2021
Areas of the boardwalk were closed off to pedestrian traffic during the detonation period. City officials have yet to comment on what was found during the investigation and if all the remaining fireworks were detonated.
Part of the fireworks display went up in a cloud of colorful smoke Sunday morning after one of the fireworks accidentally discharged. No beachgoers were injured, but several fireworks handlers had minor injuries, and the evening fireworks display was canceled.
In the update Monday, the fire department said the beach and boardwalk patrons in the area of Dorchester Street and the beach should stay at a safe distance outside the established safety perimeter as crews work.
