Published on July 06, 2020
Menlo Park Fire Protection District
Man injures self using illegal fireworks
Firefighter/Paramedics treat a man for lacerations and burns to his hand and face when illegal fireworks blow up
San Mateo County Public Safety Communications Center (PSC) received a single call for an injured male subject who needed medical treatment for burns due to a reported fireworks explosion. The incident was in front of a building located on the 2900 block of Calvin Avenue in the unincorporated County area of North Fair Oaks at 10:58 pm, Thursday evening, July 2nd.
Menlo Engine Three with Captain/Paramedic Chris Dennebaum and crew arrived on-scene at 11:05 pm and found a twenty year old man who had suffered lacerations and burns to his face and hand due to a glass bottle blowing up with fireworks inside of it. Perhaps most concerning, Captain/Paramedic Dennebaum said, “was that his eye was completely swollen shut, especially with the underlying burns and lacerations caused by the glass and explosive devices gun powder and packing material”.
A total of three fire Engines, a Ladder Truck and a Battalion Chief responded with 14 personnel because of the reported explosion being inside of the structure, but all units were cancelled with the exception of Menlo Engine 3 and the Battalion Chief, once it was determined that it was only a medical emergency. The man was transported by Ambulance to Stanford Hospital for further care and treatment.
Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “I feel like a broken record sometimes talking about the personal dangers of using fireworks every year. I truly hope this man doesn’t loose function of his injured eye, isn’t disfigured or looses feeling and/or even use of his hand. Ask most firefighters about what we see every year and most can tell you horror stories about people who have blown fingers off, been blinded, lost hearing, or worse, because of illegal and legal (in some cities) fireworks use. It’s a sad and troubling testament to behaviors that have dramatic and sometimes terrible unintended consequences.
The Menlo Park Fire Protection District, provides critical fire and emergency services to its areas in the Town of Atherton, Cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, unincorporated San Mateo County and the SLAC National Accelerator and Laboratories. 100 firefighters spread over three shifts respond from seven fire stations.