A 40-year-old man lost a finger in a fireworks-related incident when an aerial exploded in his hand on Hawaii island Sunday night. On Oahu another man had to have fingers amputated.
Honolulu Department of Emergency Services spokeswoman Shayne Enright said there were more than 160 fireworks-related calls between 6 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday.
Enright also said there were several serious fireworks-related injuries. One man had to have fingers amputated; another man got nervous while setting off fireworks and fell while running away, suffering a serious head injury. Another man set his garage on fire and suffered burns to his hands while trying to remove some of his belongings, it was reported.
The Honolulu Fire Department said there were two brush fires, two rubbish fires and two structure fires related to fireworks.
On Hawaii island, firefighters responding to a call at a Hilo home at 9:24 p.m. Sunday arrived to find a man in the front yard with his right index finger blown off. An aerial device had accidentally exploded while he was holding it, the Fire Department said. Paramedics transported the man to the hospital.
On Oahu, an unknown number of illegal aerials went off before, around and after midnight.
The city’s first responders were busy on New Year’s Eve, but said this year was a little better than last year for major incidents.
“We got a pass,” said
Honolulu Police Department Deputy Chief John McCarthy at a news conference Monday. “With all the illegal fireworks, illegal aerials out there, there weren’t that many injuries or serious property damage.”
Police seized a rental van in Kaneohe on Sunday night as it appeared to be dropping off an unknown amount of illegal fireworks. Police reportedly cited two individuals and started a felony investigation.
Firefighters responded to a 2-acre brush fire up on the hills in Hawaii Kai, according to HFD spokesman Scot Seguirant. An off-duty police officer saw a flare start the fire, officials said.
“We dodged a bullet,” Seguirant said. “We’re very thankful and our crews worked very hard to get ahead of that, and we’re very fortunate.”
Maui County authorities reported responding to two small brush fires in Kahului. On Polani Street, children were seen playing and running away after the fire started.
