From Alabama to California: Firework incidents kill, injure dozens this July 4th
These incidents are among dozens of firework-related injuries and deaths reported across the United States during this year's Fourth of July festivities.
Here is a roundup of major pyrotechnics-related deaths and injuries reported by state across the nation as of July 7:
Alabama
In Tallapoosa County, officials said six people suffered injuries after a pontoon boat modified to act as a fireworks launch barge exploded on Lake Martin during a July 4 fireworks show. The explosion involved illegal fireworks and occurred near Kowaliga Basin in the Blue Creek area, the Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.
California
In Ventura County, one person died in a July 3 house fire after fireworks exploded in the garage in the 1600 block of Edmund Street, the Simi Valley Police Department reported. The fire erupted in the garage and spread to the attic and main areas of the home about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, officials said.
In Orange County, an 8-year-old girl was killed in an explosion during a "large illegal fireworks display" July 4 along a residential street, the Desert Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network reported. The incident unfolded about 9:45 p.m. in a residential cul-de-sac, according to the Buena Park Police Department. The fireworks "failed and began misfiring toward the residence where the child was," police wrote in a statement. A burning projectile then struck other fireworks that were near the young victim, causing them to ignite as well.
Delaware
In Sussex County, a man allegedly aimed "numerous" fireworks at people in the 100 block of Garfield Parkway, according to the Bethany Beach Police Department, and a short time later, reportedly aimed a "mortar style" firework at a large group on the beach. Several people were hit, the Delaware News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Police Chief Patrick Foley said the victims suffered non life-threatening injuries.
Florida
In Nassau County, several people suffered minor injuries after a large gangway collapsed July 4 at the Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina, the Florida Times-Union, part of the USA TODAY Network reported. The Fernandina Beach Police Department and city reported the victims were treated at the scene.
Border Patrol active shooter: 3 officers injured at Texas Border Patrol facility; armed man killed
Illinois
In McHenry County, according to CBS News, a man was seriously injured July 5 after being hit in the face by a firework on the 1300 block of Beach Street in unincorporated Crystal Lake. The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District reported the man was taken by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital to be treated.
Indiana
In Monroe County, a man died while lighting fireworks in the 7000 block of West Tabor Hill Road in Stinesville, northwest of Bloomington, WISH-TV reported. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as 23-year-old Tyler Pinkley from Bloomington.
Massachusetts
In Barnstable County, during set up for its annual fireworks show, eight people suffered injuries in a July 2 firework explosion at the New Seabury Country Club in Mashpee, according to the Mashpee Fire Department. The Cape Code Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported one person was flown by medical helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and another was transported to Falmouth Hospital with minor injuries, the fire department reported. Six other people suffered injuries but declined transportation to hospitals.
Tennessee
In Lawrence County, officials said one person suffered serious injuries and another suffered critical injuries in an incident that took place just after dusk on July 4. Lawrence County EMS said one person was transported to a hospital by vehicle and the other person was taken by medical helicopter to "a regional specialty center." Additional details were not provided by officials. USA TODAY has reached out to Lawrence County first-responders.
Washington
In King County, Harborview Medical Center treated nearly 50 people with fireworks-related injuries over the Independence Day holiday weekend including one person who lost their hand, The Seattle Times reported. In all, 18 involved hand injuries, 13 involved eye injuries, and the remaining victims suffered injuries to 'other body areas" the outlet reported.
This is a developing story.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: July 4th 2025 firework deaths and injuries by state
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Curses as White House Faith Office Lunch Takes Bizarre Turn
Things got a bit awkward during the White House Faith Office luncheon on Monday. Not only did President Donald Trump curse in front of faith leaders—calling Biden-era indictments against him 'bulls--t'—he raged that he he had been investigated more than the gangster Al Capone, bragged he has 'always made money,' and incorrectly claimed gas prices are the lowest they have been in 50 years. Those topics did not appear to be part of Trump's prepared remarks. As he addressed assembled religious business leaders from the podium, he looked down occasionally at his speech but went off on tangents as he worked his way through the text. 'I've ended the radical left war on faith, and we're once again protecting religious freedom instead of destroying it, and God is once again welcomed back into our public square,' Trump said, clearly part of his prepared remarks. Trump, 79, compared himself to Capone moments later. He characterized the notorious gangster, believed to have murdered over 200 people, as 'great.' 'I was under investigation more than the late, great, Alphonse Capone,' Trump said. 'Think of it. Al Capone would kill people for dinner. If he left the room and he didn't like him, he'd have him shot, killed, buried under a building someplace, as part of the foundation of a building. They're all over the place, and I said I had more time under investigation than the legendary Alphonse Capone, or probably anybody else.' Trump then misremembered that he had been indicted four times in 2023, not five. 'The one thing I did that was very helpful, I was indicted five times. Indicted, that wasn't a word that was in—my father's looking down, my mother's looking down, that my son's not supposed to be indicted,' he said. 'I think I got indicted five times, impeached two times. All bulls--t, right? Terrible stuff.' The luncheon crowd, comprising 60 CEOs and business leaders who donate to faith-aligned charities, did not appear to mind the president's meandering, as they clapped and cheered throughout his speech as he rambled. 'Gas prices have reached the lowest level in five decades,' Trump remarked at one point. 'Actually, it's going to be, we're going to see some really good numbers where, you know, drill, baby drill, drill, baby drill. I've got to make sure that people can afford to produce the gas. ... 'But the gas has gotten to the lowest level in decades, and you're seeing $1.99 $1.98. I saw $1.95 at certain states, not California, because every time it goes down, they add taxes onto it,' Trump rambled. 'All they do is they keep adding taxes. Terrible governor, doesn't know what he's doing. He may be, he may be a candidate, but if you, if you go by success, you can't have him be a candidate.' Fox News reported that the White House luncheon is the 'first event of its kind.' The White House Faith Office was created by executive order in February. Trump grew up in a Reformed Church but rarely attends services as an adult. He has made a habit of name-dropping God since entering politics a decade ago, and he won the presidency in 2016 off the backs of Evangelical voters who later became his MAGA base.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump says any 'credible' Epstein files should be released
President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US Justice Department should release all "credible" information from its probe into notorious sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein as he sought to douse a firestorm of criticism from his supporters over his handling of the case. Trump is facing the most serious split of his political career from his famously loyal right-wing base over suspicions that his administration is covering up lurid details of Epstein's crimes to protect rich and powerful figures they say are implicated. "The attorney general has handled that very well," the Republican leader said of Pam Bondi, who leads the Justice Department, when he was asked about the case at the White House. Trump repeated his claim that the Epstein files were "made up" by his Democratic predecessors in the White House -- even though he said multiple times during the election campaign that he would "probably" release them. "She's handled it very well, and it's going to be up to her," Trump said. "Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release." Trump's latest comments mark a softening of his stance -- he had voiced frustration in the Oval Office and online about his supporters' fixation on Epstein and pleaded with them to move on. "I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody," Trump told reporters Tuesday night, adding: "It's pretty boring stuff." The president's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement has long held as an article of faith that "Deep State" elites are protecting Epstein's most powerful associates in the Democratic Party and Hollywood. Trump has faced growing outrage since his administration effectively shut down Epstein-related conspiracy theories, which have become MAGA obsessions. The Justice Department and FBI said in a memo made public earlier this month there is no evidence that the disgraced financier kept a "client list" or was blackmailing powerful figures. They also dismissed the claim that Epstein was murdered in jail, confirming his death by suicide, and said they would not be releasing any more information on the probe. - 'Let the people decide' - It marked the first time Trump's officials had publicly refuted the stories -- pushed for years by numerous right-wing figures, notably including the FBI's top two officials, before Trump hired them. Beyond angering supporters, the issue has opened a schism within his administration, sparking a fiery blow-up between Bondi and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who is said to be considering resigning. Trump's attempts to take the sting out of the controversy have largely failed, with far right influencers continuing to criticize him online. Even his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, a Fox News host, has called for "more transparency" from the administration. Trump's most powerful ally in the US Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson, pushed Tuesday for the administration to release more information about the case, and his stance has been echoed by multiple Republicans. "We should put everything out there and let the people decide," he told MAGA influencer Benny Johnson's internet show, calling on Bondi to "come forward and explain" apparent discrepancies in her statements about the case. Bondi told Fox News in February a list of Epstein clients was on her desk for review, before backtracking and saying that no such list existed. Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking. Trump -- who has denied visiting the US Virgin Islands home where prosecutors say Epstein sex trafficked underage girls -- said ahead of his election he would have "no problem" releasing files related to the case. Asked whether Bondi had told him if his name appeared in a file related to Epstein, Trump said "no," adding that Bondi has "given us just a very quick briefing." ft/jgc/dw
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
California couple accused of tricking women into carrying babies through surrogacy; 21 children seized
Surrogate moms from Texas to Florida thought they were carrying a baby for a Southern California couple struggling to have a second child due to infertility. Then, the women discovered they were all surrogates for the same couple, some at the same time, with the babies now in foster care. Twenty-one children have been taken into protective custody in total. Kayla, a 27-year-old from Texas, was among the women who decided to become surrogates. 'I love being pregnant but was done growing my own family, so I thought what better way to experience pregnancy at the same time as grow their family,' Kayla told KTLA 5 News. Through an agency called Mark Surrogacy, Kayla was matched with a couple in Arcadia, California. After a successful embryo transfer via IVF, she gave birth to their baby on March 13. Two months later, Kayla was shocked to learn the baby she carried was no longer with the intended parents. The child had been placed in foster care. 'It was something I never would have expected to happen—something almost unbelievable unless you're living it,' she said. Kayla later found out that the baby she carried wasn't the only one removed from the home. Multiple children had been taken into protective custody. KTLA spoke with three other women who say they were also surrogates for the same Arcadia couple – one who delivered in Florida in June — tragically that baby was stillborn. Two Los Angeles County surrogates say they also carried for this couple, one who gave birth in March, another who had two babies -one in 2022, another in 2024. Public records list an Arcadia home as the address for Mark Surrogacy and also as the residence of Silvia Zhang, the woman the surrogates say they carried for. In early May, Arcadia police launched a child abuse investigation, responding to that same home after a two-month-old baby was hospitalized with head trauma. Arcadia Police say the baby's legal parents, Silvia Zhang, 38, and Guojun Xuan, 65, were arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment/neglect with warrants served on May 9. They were later released. Arcadia PD alleges a nanny abused the baby, and the parents delayed seeking medical care for two days. The Department of Children and Family Services also investigated and removed all children from the couple's custody … 21 children in total. Police say the children range in age from two months to 13 years old, most being babies and toddlers. They also told KTLA that Silvia Zhang was able to show that she is the legal mom on all of their birth certificates. In recent months, Mark Surrogacy has filed paperwork to terminate the company, according to public records. But a surrogate in Pennsylvania, who asked to remain anonymous due to contractual restrictions, says she is currently pregnant with a child for Mark Surrogacy. 'We are carrying for Mark Surrogacy, and we are 26 weeks,' she told KTLA. 'It really hit hard when all of this came through.' Via a text message from a phone associated with Zhang, KTLA was told, 'Any accusations of wrongdoing are misguided and wrong. We look forward to vindicating any such claims at the appropriate time when and if any actions are brought.' Kayla has started a GoFundMe campaign for legal fees so she can try to get custody of the child she delivered, and says she has been interviewed by the FBI. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
