Fireworks cited in Wichita-area fires, teen’s partial thumb amputation

While final statistics won’t be available for a few weeks, Wichita fire department officials on Monday said there was at least one major injury and two significant fires over the Independence Day holiday period linked to fireworks.

A mortar shell not legal in the city of Wichita exploded in a 17-year-old boy’s hand on Thursday, resulting in a “partial amputation” of his thumb, Battalion Chief Stuart Bevis said.

The teen was setting off fireworks at Murdock Park shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday when the mortar shell didn’t ignite properly, Bevis said. The teen then picked up the mortar tube to see why it malfunctioned.

“As he handled the device, it detonated in his hand,” Bevis said.

He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Fire officials did not have an updated condition report for him on Monday.

Fireworks were to blame for a building fire that caused an estimated $175,000 damage on Saturday, Bevis said.

Employees at Camelus Gold and Leather, 1430 N. Broadway, had set off fireworks outside during the day, then put the remnants in a trash can and set the trash can inside the building, Bevis said.

The remnants still had enough heat to ignite combustibles, and the resulting fire was reported at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“Just because you think they’re OK … if you haven’t soaked ’em, they can lead to this,” Bevis said.

Several dumpster fires were reported through the weekend, which Bevis said were likely the result of discarded fireworks remnants.

“People throw their stuff in the dumpster and think it’s OK,” he said.

A shed fire Sunday in Planeview was caused by a grass fire ignited by children setting off legal fireworks, Bevis said. The fireworks started a grass fire, which spread to the shed in the 3500 block of West Sunnybrook. That fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damage.

“They tried to put it out, but they did not have enough water,” Bevis said.

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Fireworks cited in Wichita-area fires, teen’s partial thumb amputation."