A 26-year-old man was seriously injured after he discharged a firework at the Oak Harbor carnival late in the evening, according to police. Emergency responders managed to control heavy bleeding at the scene, and the man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for specialized treatment.
Police: Man Airlifted to Harborview
Oak Harbor Police said the accident happened shortly after 10:30 p.m., and that emergency crews arrived within minutes to get the bleeding under control, according to KIRO 7 News Seattle. The station reports the department later posted details to Facebook and urged residents to follow safety precautions and state fireworks laws, a reminder that came a bit too late for this incident.
Where It Happened
The injury took place at Windjammer Park during the city’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July carnival, a multi-day waterfront event that features rides and a fireworks show, according to the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s schedule shows the carnival ran through July 5 and drew large holiday crowds to the park.
Harborview Saw Dozens of Fireworks Injuries
Regionally, Harborview Medical Center has been treating a surge of fireworks victims this holiday week, with clinicians reporting at least 68 fireworks-related injuries as of Sunday morning, KIRO 7 News Seattle found. Many of those cases involve serious damage to hands and eyes, and Harborview serves as the region’s burn and trauma referral center.
Local Rules and Past Incidents
The City of Oak Harbor restricts when legal fireworks may be used and spells out safety steps such as “only light fireworks on property that you own” and keeping water nearby, per the city’s fireworks regulations. Island outlets have recorded prior serious mishaps on Whidbey Island, including a January incident that sent a resident to Harborview after a fireworks explosion, a pattern officials point to when warning about mortar-style and other high-risk devices; see the City of Oak Harbor and the Whidbey News-Times for background.
Investigators have not said whether charges will follow, and the injured man’s current condition has not been released publicly. Police and event organizers are urging extra caution at future displays as emergency departments and burn centers continue to handle some of the worst injuries linked to consumer fireworks.
