Early Sunday morning, a man in his 20s died after a firework exploded in his hand while he was standing on the roof of an abandoned building at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant site in Shoreview. Firefighters reached him using a 101-foot aerial ladder, and paramedics took him to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died following emergency surgery. The blast reportedly happened in front of about 15 to 20 people, and multiple agencies have opened an investigation into exactly what unfolded on that rooftop.
Rescue and response
Ramsey County Emergency Communications received a 911 call around 1:30 a.m. Sunday reporting a man who was unconscious but breathing on the roof, with serious wounds to his face and chest. Deputies, the Lake Johanna Fire Department and Allina Medical Transport responded. Because the building’s stairs were unusable, firefighters raised Ladder 113, a 101-foot articulating aerial platform, to get to the roof.
Once they reached him, firefighters and paramedics brought the man down and transported him to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he later died after emergency surgery, according to FOX 9.
Fireworks risk around the holiday
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2023 Fireworks Annual Report, an estimated 9,700 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2023, and roughly two-thirds of those injuries happened in the weeks around July 4. The agency’s analysis shows a statistically significant increase in fireworks injuries over the last decade and points to misuse and malfunctions as frequent causes of severe trauma. For more details, see the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
What officials said
In a statement to FOX 9, the Lake Johanna Fire Department said, “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of this young man.” Fire officials said multiple state and local agencies are now investigating the blast, and investigators hope the 15 to 20 people who witnessed the explosion can provide key details. Authorities have not released the man’s name or said whether any charges are expected.
Where it happened
The explosion occurred on the roof of an abandoned building at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant site, a large federal-era munitions complex that spans parts of Arden Hills and New Brighton and has been the focus of long-running cleanup and redevelopment efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency continue oversight of remediation on portions of the TCAAP Superfund area. For background on the site’s history and cleanup status, see the EPA’s site profile: EPA.
Investigation and next steps
Ramsey County and partner agencies are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who has video of the blast to contact investigators through the county’s public-safety channels. Officials say this weekend’s tragedy underscores that even small consumer fireworks can cause catastrophic injuries when handled improperly, and investigators plan to release more information as it becomes available.
