A teenage boy was rushed to Harborview Medical Center after an apparent homemade explosive blew up in his hands at a Queen Anne park on July 4.
According to the Seattle Fire Department, the youth was in a park located at 3rd Avenue West and West Blaine Street at about 11:30 p.m. The park is believed to the West Queen Anne Playfield.
The boy was in the park with other teens when he said he found the explosive on the ground. The boy told firefighters he picked the up device and it exploded, causing the severe injuries to the teenager. The force of the explosion knocked the teen out, and caused him to lose one of his fingers. The teen also had his hair singed and his leg burned.
Medics transported the teenager to Harborview Medical Center. He was breathing, conscious and talking. He was in stable condition.
The first arriving crews say they found several teenagers in the Queen Anne park setting off fireworks. Residual fireworks were found scattered around the park along with a blown up trashcan. The Seattle Police Department is investigating this case.
Fireworks are illegal in the city of Seattle. Every year the fire department responds to dozens of injuries and fires caused by these illegal items. These injuries and fires can be prevented.
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