MD Man Severely Burned Making Homemade Fireworks: State Fire Marshal

WESTMINSTER, MD — The state fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are investigating a fire that injured a Westminster man while he made homemade fireworks.

About 10 a.m. Friday, the Westminster Fire Department responded to the 300 block of Parisian Way for a house fire. A deputy state fire marshal was in the area and arrived just before the firefighters. He found the 68-year-old owner, who was severely burned, and told the investigator he was making homemade fireworks.

The fire department contained the fire within the garage of the home.

Maryland State Police Aviation Command flew the injured man to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he is listed in stable condition. No one else was inside the home at the time of the fire.

Investigators requested help from state bomb technicians and explosive specialists with ATF, in rendering the residence safe, collecting evidence, and processing the scene.

Investigators searched the home, where they found materials used for making homemade fireworks and several destructive devices in various stages of construction.

Bomb technicians rendered all of the devices safe and properly disposed of the remaining products.

Authorities did not release the victim's name and no charges have been filed.