A fireworks explosion seriously injured a man and a woman at a Darnestown, Maryland, home on Tuesday, Montgomery County officials said.
The explosion was caused by the manufacture or modification of fireworks, according to Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein. The damage included a garage door that was blown off and holes in cars that were in the driveway of the big house, video from the scene shows.
The incident left the house uninhabitable and forced the neighbors to evacuate, according to authorities.
Three people were inside the house at the time of the explosion. When firefighters arrived in the 14200 block of Cervantes Avenue, they found two people outside seriously injured: a man in extreme critical condition and a woman with injuries not considered life-threatening, authorities said. The third person was not injured.
Members of the bomb squad dressed in special suits were seen heading towards the house. Investigators looked at the garage and said there is no risk of a new explosion, but the house is no longer safe to live in.
Neighbors were allowed to return to their homes and roads were reopened later in the evening.
On Wednesday morning, the windows were boarded up and ash could be seen near a fireplace.
The fire marshal noted that the explosion serves as a reminder that fireworks are not allowed in Montgomery County.
“All fireworks are illegal,” Goldstein said. “These are items that ignite, fly, detonate, explode, or crack. That includes the possession, manufacture, or discharge and transportation of fireworks.”
The chief urged people to watch professional fireworks for a safe Independence Day celebration.
