List of fireworks accidents and incidents

This is a list of fireworks accidents and incidents, including pyrotechnics fire and explosion. The list is sortable by casualties and date.

DateEventLocationCountryCasualtiesStructure
5 May 1869C. N. Romaine & Brothers fireworks factory explosionPetersburg, VirginiaUnited States12 deathsFactory
4 November 1902Fireworks explosion at Madison SquareNew York CityUnited States15 deaths
21 June 1903Fireworks explosion in downtown shopPaterson, New JerseyUnited States17 deathsWarehouse
3 July 1908S. S. Kresge Fireworks ExplosionCleveland, OhioUnited States7 deaths[1]Five and dime store
3 July 1909Nampa Historic District#Nampa Fire of 1909Arnold Cigar Store, Nampa, IdahoUnited States4–5 deaths, unconfirmedCigar Store
6 March 1928Fireworks factory explosionSamarang, JavaIndonesia20+ deathsFactory
3 April 1930Pennsylvania Fireworks Display Company factory explosionDevon, PennsylvaniaUnited States9 deathsFactory
1 July 1937Drake Drug Company fireworks explosionNampa, IdahoUnited States6 deathsDrug Store
6 November 1942Rochester Fireworks Company explosionPerinton, New YorkUnited States11 deathsFactory
1 April 1947Fireworks factory explosionClinton, MissouriUnited States10 deathsFactory
5 June 1953Alco Fireworks Co. explosionHouston, TexasUnited States4 deathsWarehouse
23 June 1958Fireworks stand explosionSalvador, BahiaBrazil100+ deaths
24 August 1964Fireworks ignite storage tanksAtlatlahuacaMexico45 deaths
27 May 1970Carpentersville Fireworks Company explosionHuntley, IllinoisUnited States3 injuries[2]Factory
17 May 1971Continental Fireworks Company explosionPisgah, IllinoisUnited States3 deaths, 5 injuries[2]Factory
13 June 1971Fireworks explosion destroys schoolPueblaMexico13 deaths
6 March 1972Melrose Display Fireworks Company explosionOrland Park, IllinoisUnited States3 deaths, 16 injuries[2]Factory
4 July 1972Bangs Lake Park explosionWauconda, IllinoisUnited States1 death, 8 injuries[2]Park
30 May 1973Children injured by discarded shellHuntley, IllinoisUnited States2 injuries[2]Factory
9 June 1973Worldwide Fireworks Company explosionMcHenry, IllinoisUnited States7 injuries[2]Factory
18 February 1977Xinjiang 61st Regiment Farm fireXinjiang 61st RegimentChina694 deaths, 161 disabled[3]Public hall
10 August 1982Rockingham Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. IncSeabrook, N.H.United States4 dead, 3 injuredFactory
27 May 1983Benton fireworks disasterBenton, TennesseeUnited States11 deaths, 1 injuryFactory
7 September 1984C23 tragedyQala, GozoMalta7 deaths, 1 injuryPatrol Craft Fast
20 May 1985Illegal fireworks factory explosionBeaver Township, Mahoning County, OhioUnited States9 deathsFactory
25 June 1985Aerlex Fireworks plant explosionHallett, OklahomaUnited States21 deaths, 5 injuriesFactory
5 April 19861986 San Francisco fireworks disasterSan Francisco, CaliforniaUnited States8–9 deaths, 20 injuriesFactory
4 July 1987 National Mall Fireworks Display Washington DCUnited States 4+ injuries[4]Park
25 September 1987Celebrity Fireworks plant explosionRialto, CaliforniaUnited States1 death[5]Factory
12 December 1988Mexico City fireworks disasterMexico CityMexico62+ deaths, up to 83 injuriesMarket
22 March 1989Fengate fireworks factory explosionPeterboroughUnited Kingdom1 firefighter death, over 100 injuriesFactory[6]
14 February 1991Culemborg fireworks disasterCulemborg and VianenNetherlands2 deaths, dozens of injuries[7]Factory
7 March 1991Bright Sparklers fireworks disasterSungai BulohMalaysia26 deaths, 83 injuriesFactory
21 June 1991Fireworks store explosionRio de JaneiroBrazil22 deathsWarehouse
7 June 1994Fireworks factory warehouse fireMaricopa County ArizonaUnited States1 death[8]factory
31 January 19961996 Shaoyang explosionRFX factory in Shaoyang, HunanChina134 death, 405 injuries[9]RDX factory
3 July 1996Fireworks stand explosionLawrence County, OhioUnited States9 deaths, 11 injuries[10]Shop
1 November 1996Accidents in a number of fireworks factoriesUnknownChina51 deaths[7]Factory
5 March 1997Pyro Shows fireworks warehouse explosionLaFollette , TennesseeUnited States4 deathsWarehouse[11]
11 December 1998Independence Professional Fireworks factory explosionOsseo, MichiganUnited States7 deathsFactory
26 September 1999Celaya fireworks disasterCelayaMexico63 deaths,[7] 348 injuriesWarehouse
1 December 1999Explosion in a fireworks factoryUnknownBrazil39 deaths[7]Factory
13 May 2000Enschede fireworks disasterEnschedeNetherlands[7]23 deaths, c. 950 injuriesFactory
1 January 2001Volendam New Year's fireVolendamNetherlands14 deaths, 241 injuriesNightclub
24 November 2001Canecão Mineiro nightclub fireBelo HorizonteBrazil7 deaths, 197 injuriesNightclub
29 December 2001Mesa Redonda fireLimaPeru291 deaths, 134 injuriesShopping center
20 February 2003The Station nightclub fireWest Warwick, Rhode IslandUnited States100 deaths, 230 injuriesNightclub
3 November 2004Seest fireworks disasterSeestDenmark1 death, 24 injuriesFactory
30 December 2004Cromañón nightclub fireBuenos AiresArgentina194 deaths, 1,492+ injuriesNightclub
4 December 2006 Festival Fireworks Factory East Sussex United Kingdom 2 deaths, 12 injuries Factory
31 December 2007Fireworks explosion at BulacanBocauePhilippines4 missing (later found back), 7 injuriesShops
1 February 2008Istanbul fireworks disasterIstanbulTurkey22+ deaths, 100+ injuriesFactory
30 March 2008 WrestleMania XXIVOrlando, FloridaUnited States0 deaths, approx. 40 injuries Football stadium
19 April 2008Factory nightclub fireQuitoEcuador15 deaths, 35 injuries[12]Nightclub
21 September 2008Wuwang Club fireShenzhenChina43 deaths, 88 injuriesNightclub
1 January 2009Santika Club fireBangkokThailand67 deaths, 222 injuriesNightclub
29 January 2009Starmaker Fireworks Factory explosionTrece MartiresPhilippines8+ deaths, 70+ injuries[13]Factory
9 February 2009Beijing Television Cultural Center fireBeijingChina1 death, 7 injuriesOpen-air fireworks show
5 December 2009Lame Horse firePermRussia156 deaths, 78 injuriesNightclub
4 July 2012Big Bay Boom premature mass dischargeSan Diego, CaliforniaUnited States0 casualties[14]Open-air fireworks show from four barges and a pier
5 September 2012Sivakasi factory explosionSivakasiIndia40 deaths, 70+ injuriesFactory
27 January 2013Kiss nightclub fireSanta Maria, Rio Grande do SulBrazil242 deaths, 630 injuriesNightclub
20 June 2013B.E.M. Fireworks explosionCoteau-du-Lac, QuebecCanada2 deaths[15]Warehouse
20 April 2014Fireworks incidentDe Kuip, RotterdamNetherlands0 deathsFootball stadium
30 October 2015Colectiv nightclub fireBucharestRomania64 deaths, 146 injuriesNightclub
31 December 2015Manila New Year's fireworksManilaPhilippines1 death, 380 injuries, thousands displaced[16]Open-air fireworks show
10 April 2016Puttingal temple fireKollam, KeralaIndia111 deaths, 350+ injuriesPlace of worship
20 December 20162016 San Pablito Market fireworks explosionTultepecMexico42 deaths, 84 injuries[17]Market
26 October 2017Tangerang fireworks disasterTangerangIndonesia49 deaths, 46 injuriesFactory
6 June 2018Fireworks explosionTultepecMexico7 deaths, 7 injuries[17]Warehouse
5 July 2018Fireworks disasterTultepecMexico24 deaths, 49+ injuries[17]Warehouse
16 March 2021Ontario fireworks explosionOntario, CaliforniaUnited States2 deaths, 1 injured[18]Residential area
4 July 2021 LAPD firework disposal accident Los Angeles, California United States 17 injuries[19]Residential area
4 July 2021Spring Hill Firework Accident Injuring a Pregnant Bystander & Her 3-Year-Old SonSpring Hill, TNUnited States2 injuries[20]Residential Area
4 July 2021Death of Matīss KivlenieksNovi, MIUnited States1 death[21]Residential Area
6 June 2022Hale Artificier Inc. Fireworks Storage AccidentLa Grange, North CarolinaUnited States1 death, 3 injuriesFarm
14 July 2022Bastille DayCholetFrance2 deaths, 7 injuriesOpen-air show
14 August 2022 2022 Yerevan explosionYerevanArmenia16 deaths, 61 injuries Warehouse
1 December 2022 "Magic in the Sky" warehouse blast Orlando, FloridaUnited States 4 deaths, 1 injury[22]Warehouse
19 February 2023 Blitar fireworks explosion BlitarIndonesia 4 deaths, 13 injuries[23]House
29 July 2023 Sungai Kolok fireworks disasterSu-ngai KolokThailand 10+ deaths, at least 118 injured[24]Warehouse
26 September 2023 2023 Qaraqosh wedding fireQaraqoshIraq107 deaths, 82 injuries[25]Wedding hall
17 January 2024 Suphanburi fireworks disaster Suphan BuriThailand 23 deaths, 7 injuries[26]Factory
7 April 2024 Death of Allen Ray McGrew South CarolinaUnited States 1 death[27]House
28 October 2024 2024 Nileshwar temple fireworks disasterKerala India 4 deaths, 154 injured [28][29]Temple
7 December 2024 Bosa fireworks disaster BogotáColombia1 death, 6 injured House
1 January 2025 Aliamanu Fireworks disaster HonoluluUnited States 6 deaths, 20 injured [30]House
16 March 2025 Kočani nightclub fireKočaniNorth Macedonia62+ deaths, 155+ injured Nightclub
1 July 2025 Esparto, California fireworks explosionEsparto, CaliforniaUnited States 7 deaths, 2 injured[31][32]Warehouse
2 July 2025 New Seabury Country Club fireworks explosion New SeaburyUnited States 8 injured [2]Open Air
3 July 2025 Pacoima neighborhoodhouse fireworks explosionLos Angeles, CaliforniaUnited States 1 death, 4 houses burned[33]House
18 July 2025 Düsseldorf fireworks accident DüsseldorfGermany 19 injured[34]Open Air
1 January 2026 Crans-Montana bar fireCrans-MontanaSwitzerland 41 killed, 116 injured [35]Ski bar/nightclub

See also

References

  1. ^"Cleveland's Saddest Fourth: The 1908 S. S. Kresge Fireworks Explosion". Gray & Company, Publishers. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  2. ^ abcdef"Serious Firework Accidents in Illinois"(PDF). Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. ^西夫 (1995). "694条生命化为灰烬——一场没有公开报道的特大火灾". 新世纪 (4). Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  4. ^Lancaster, John (5 July 1987). "Holiday Makes Mall the Village Green". Washington Post. p. 1. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. ^"Fireworks Blast Felt for 30 Miles; Troubled Employee Missing". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  6. ^"Poignant memorial service to Peterborough firefighter killed in Fengate explosion 30 years ago". 22 March 2019.
  7. ^ abcde"'Uit Culemborgs ongeval viel geen les te trekken'". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 15 May 2000. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  8. ^"STOUT v. STATE COMPENSATION FUND".
  9. ^"新疆女子与男友同居10年家产被变卖才知对方是通缉犯". 亚心网. 15 December 2011.
  10. ^"25 years later, memories of Scottown fireworks explosion are still fresh". The Herald-Dispatch. 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  11. ^https://www.wate.com/news/local-news/deadly-fireworks-explosion-in-la-follette-20-years-later/ Retrieved 4 July 2023
  12. ^"Brazil, Mexico And Other Deadly Nightclub Fires In Latin America". The Huffington Post. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  13. ^"Philippine fireworks factory explosion kills at least 8, injures 70 more". Wikinews. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  14. ^Horn, Jonathan (12 July 2012). "July 4 fireworks fiasco solved - technically". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  15. ^"2 die in fireworks factory blast near Montreal". Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  16. ^"One dead and 380 injured after Philippines firework displays". The Guardian. 1 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  17. ^ abc"24 doden, tientallen gewonden bij vuurwerkexplosies Mexico". NOS (in Dutch). 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  18. ^"2 Dead, 1 Injured in Southern California Fireworks Explosion That Caused Massive Fire". people.com. Naledi Ushe. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  19. ^Jones, Kay; Yan, Holly (4 July 2021). "Man accused of storing 16 tons of fireworks at home, including devices that later blew up and injured 17". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  20. ^DeSantis, Rachel (4 July 2021). "Pregnant Mom, 3-Year-Old Son Hospitalized After Firework Accident at Block Party: 'Chaos'".
  21. ^"Firework accident that killed NHL goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks was at coach's house, team says".
  22. ^Mayorquin, Orlando (12 June 2023). "Fatal Blast at Fireworks Warehouse Was Preventable, OSHA Says". New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  23. ^"House Exploded in Blitar, 4 Killed, 13 Injured, Including Babies - advertise.biz.id". 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  24. ^Ashton, Ben (29 July 2023). "At least 10 killed after devastating fireworks warehouse explosion in Thailand". Metro News. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  25. ^Gritten, David (27 September 2023). "Iraq fire: Around 100 killed in blaze at wedding party in Qaraqosh". BBC News. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  26. ^"ระทึก! "โรงงานพลุระเบิด" สุพรรณบุรี ตาย 23 คน สาหัส 7 คน". Thai PBS (in Thai). Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  27. ^Alund, Natalie. "Man dies of 'massive head trauma' after lighting firework off Uncle Sam top hat on July 4th". USA Today. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  28. ^"Nileshwar disaster: Collector says temple has no permission to conduct fireworks". Mathrubhumi. 29 October 2024.
  29. ^"Over 150 Injured, 8 Critical, In Fireworks Accident During Temple Festival In Kerala". News18.
  30. ^"3 women dead, over 2 dozen people wounded in Aliamanu fireworks explosion". 2 January 2025.
  31. ^Bodies of 7 victims found in wreckage of Northern California fireworks warehouse, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025.
  32. ^[1], CBS News, 5 July 2025.
  33. ^- Pacoima fireworks explosion kills man, burns four homes, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025.
  34. ^"19 injured after fireworks show goes awry at fair in western Germany", Associated Press, 19 July 2025.
  35. ^"Swiss bar fire that killed 40 likely started by sparklers on champagne bottles, officials say", BBC, 1 January 2026.
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