08-07-2025
Man blows off hand while setting off cannon for Fourth of July, WA officials say
A man's hand was blown off in Washington after he lit a cannon during the Fourth of July, fire officials said.
The man in his 40s was rushed to Station 33 after 11 p.m. in Snohomish, Peter Mongillo, a spokesperson for Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue told McClatchy News by phone July 7.
'We don't know if the cannon malfunctioned or if his hand was in the way when the cannon went off,' Mongillo said.
Mongillo said the man had surgery on July 7 and 'he had no hand left.'
'These types of injuries can be life-threatening, but swift action and proper care dramatically improve the chances of survival,' fire officials said in a Facebook post.
Cannons can be packed with black powder and the fuse can be lit to produce a loud bang, Mongillo said, but it doesn't require firing a cannonball.
This method is often used in ceremonies and reenactments, but the blast from setting off a cannon can still be 'hazardous,' according to the Shiloh National Military Park.
Snohomish is about a 30-mile drive northeast from Seattle.
