A north Tulsa neighborhood’s holiday week turned tragic Wednesday night when a 12-year-old boy lost his hand and suffered severe eye injuries after a fireworks device exploded. An 11-year-old who was with him was also hurt, and police say both children are expected to survive.
Tulsa police said officers were called to the area shortly after 10:20 p.m. Firefighters and paramedics arrived to find two juveniles with traumatic injuries. Witnesses told investigators the 12-year-old was holding a small, grenade-like mortar while the 11-year-old tried to light it, and the device went off before it could be launched, according to KJRH.
Police described the device as a mortar-style shell with a very short fuse that should never be in a child’s hands. Investigators believe the explosion was accidental. "The injuries are expected to have lifelong consequences," Tulsa Police Capt. Richard Meulenberg told News 9.
First responders initially treated the 12-year-old in Tulsa, then flew him to an Oklahoma City hospital for specialized care. The 11-year-old, who suffered lacerations, was treated locally. Authorities said the injuries are serious but not believed to be life-threatening, per KJRH.
What investigators say
Investigators recovered another similar device at the scene. Based on the blast pattern and witness accounts, they believe the ignition was accidental. Officials stressed that mortar shells are designed to be fired from tubes and come with short fuses, which makes them especially dangerous to hold, according to News 9.
Why experts say these devices are so dangerous
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that hands, faces and eyes are among the body parts most often injured in fireworks incidents, and thousands of people end up in emergency rooms each year. The agency urges the public to leave aerial shells and other powerful pyrotechnics to licensed professionals and to keep all fireworks away from children, per the CPSC.
Local rules and safety reminders for families
The City of Tulsa’s fire prevention guidance states that anyone possessing, selling or using fireworks inside city limits must have an operational permit and that handling fireworks without one is unlawful, according to the City of Tulsa. Safety officials and burn-center staff say the lowest-risk option is to attend professional shows and keep children well away from consumer fireworks at home.
Tulsa police say the investigation remains open as fire and police investigators examine the devices and continue interviewing witnesses. The incident comes as national safety agencies and local hospitals are again warning about a spike in hand and eye injuries tied to consumer fireworks around Independence Day, per the CPSC.
