Fireworks safety story backfires

MORAINE, Ohio (WDTN) - As we here at 2 NEWS set out to remind you about fireworks safety Monday, our shoot did not go as planned.

I borrowed some novelty fireworks from a colleague here at work, and photographer Kris Sproles and I set out to shoot some video of a "Large California Smoke Rocket," which is a novelty firework, completely legal to buy and set off in the state of Ohio.

We carried the rockets to a sidewalk outside the station, and lit the wick of one of the rockets, then backed away. Seconds later, once the smoke had calmed down, Sproles moved in for a closer shot, and a piece of burning debris flew into his eye.

"I just thought it was smoking and it was harmless. Maybe I'd get some smoke in my face, but I didn't think something would actually fly out of the smoke rocket," said Sproles. "It felt like a burning bug in my eye. I was really stupid I shouldn't have been that close."

Getting too close to fireworks is one of the leading reasons for injuries. Experts estimate that nearly 10-thousand people are injured by fireworks each year, including legal ones, like the smoke rockets.

"Even the consumer fireworks, the legal fireworks can cause injury," said Rich Palmer, Washington Township Fire Department. "Most of the injuries that are seen in the emergency rooms are consumer fireworks injuries. They're burning their hands, faces, eyes."

Sproles had a small burn in the corner of his right eyelid, but things could have been much worse.

"It burned and it hurt and I'm definitely not going to mess with smoke rockets," said Sproles. "I am a casualty."

Sproles saw an eye doctor, and is expected to be okay.

In Ohio, you can buy but not set off fireworks that explode or leave the ground. Usually the ones you find in the grocery or drug stores are okay, but can still be dangerous.

If you have concerns about your neighbors setting off illegal fireworks, call your local fire department.