SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A man is in the hospital fighting for his life after a firework exploded in his hands Sunday morning.
The Sacramento Fire Department is now warning others of the dangers of fireworks.
People who live in the North Sacramento neighborhood where it happened say they could hear someone lighting fireworks in the late hours of Saturday and into early Sunday morning. It happened just a few feet away from several homes and about a half-acre was burned.
Firefighters who were at the scene told ABC10 it was one of the worst fireworks injuries they'd ever seen and they don't know of the man if will survive.
"This is terrible, it's terrible, it's bad. I haven't seen anything like this," said nearby resident Ontarious Warmsley.
Warmsley pointed out the damage from the fire sparked by the firework while on a Labor Day walk with his son.
Sacramento Fire says the call came in around 8 a.m. near Rose Street and Vinci Avenue.
"When they arrived, they noticed the victim with severe injuries to his hands as well as chest. The brother reported that they were camping out here when in the nighttime they saw a firework fall from the sky. The brother then went out and grabbed this firework and tried to relight this firework in his hands," said Sacramento Fire Department Capt. Justin Sylvia.
Sylvia says it exploded causing severe injuries to the man's hands and his chest.
"I mean it's scary because that could've happened to anybody. We have a lot of kids on the trails," said Warmsley.
"The Battalion Chief on scene did see these injuries and he's been on this fire department for 20 years and he did describe this as one of the worst firework injuries that he'd ever seen in his career," added Sylvia.
The man in his 20s was taken the hospital. He is in critical condition.
Sylvia says this serves as an example of threatening fireworks can be any time of year. Although the fire department hasn't received many calls about fireworks lately, they know people are still lighting them.
"Fireworks are explosives, so they're very dangerous to handle. If they have a malfunction, do not try to relight it. Dispose of it properly, preferably in a bucket of water. Let it sit overnight, so it does not have the potential to reignite," said Sylvia.
Warmsley says his heart goes out to the young man and his family.
"You know what's said is they tell me he was young and his life is gonna be forever changed. If you lose ... both your hands, chest cavity. I mean now you're gonna need care for the rest of your life, all this over lighting some fireworks. It's not worth it. It's terrible, it's not worth it," said Warmsley.
Sacramento Fire is investigating the incident and who owned the firework.
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