Maryland city July 4 fireworks canceled following accidental explosion

July 4 fireworks in Ocean City, Md., have been canceled following an accidental explosion of a pyrotechnic display being set up on the city’s beachfront. 

The Ocean City Fire Department said in a press release shared on its Facebook page that it was alerted Sunday to a “vehicle fire” near the city’s Northside Park and beach. 

While officials said that firefighters arriving at the scene found that “no vehicle was on fire,” they added that “there was an unintentional discharge of fireworks that were being set up on the beach for the Town’s fireworks show.” 

Video shared on social media from the incident showed a series of fireworks and a large cloud of smoke erupting into the daytime sky.  

The explosion could be seen from nearby streets and by beach visitors walking along the boardwalk. 

VIDEO July 4 fireworks accidentally set off (from a truck) at once displaying a terrifying scene in Ocean City, Maryland pic.twitter.com/MIojK86odw

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 4, 2021

The fire department said that employees of the fireworks company setting up the display received “minor injuries” but “refused transport to the hospital by Ocean City Paramedics.” 

No one on the boardwalk or at the beach at the time of the explosion was believed to have been injured, officials said. 

Ocean City Fire Chief Richie Bowers said in a statement, “Our Fire Marshals are on the scene and will investigate the cause of the unintentional 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,” he said, adding, “It is this very zone and safety protocols that kept anyone else from being injured.”

The department said in a statement released a little over an hour later that the perimeter established around the site “will remain in place until the safety inspections are complete,” which “could take several days.” 

“At this time, areas of the Boardwalk have also been closed to pedestrian traffic until a thorough safety inspection has been completed,” the Ocean City agency added. 

Officials said that out of “an abundance of caution,” they have decided that “all firework shows in Ocean City” initially scheduled in celebration of Independence Day would be canceled. 

The Uptown Show at the park, which was set to include performances by musical guests, had been scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. EDT, with fireworks set to start at 9 p.m. EDT.

It was not immediately clear if the musical performances will continue as planned.