A 15-year-old boy suffered critical burn injuries and a traumatic amputation after a firecracker detonated in his hand in Oceanside, California.
The explosion happened at about 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, Feb. 5, at a home on North Horne Street — west of Interstate 5 and north of Mission Avenue — according to NBC San Diego, citing the Oceanside Fire Department. When police and firefighters arrived, they found the teen with acute burn injuries, CBS 8 reported. He has not been publicly identified because of his age.
Officials said the blast caused severe burns to the boy’s chest and face, along with “a traumatic amputation” of his right hand, Fox 5 reported, citing the OFD. Paramedics evaluated him at the scene before he was airlifted to the UC San Diego Burn Center, where he remains in treatment for his burns, per Fox 5.
Private use of recreational incendiary devices is illegal in San Diego County, Calif., NBC San Diego reports.
“The Oceanside Fire Department reminds the community that fireworks pose serious risks, especially to minors, and urges residents to follow all safety guidelines and local regulations regarding the use of fireworks,” OFD officials said in a statement to the outlet.
In 2025, an 8-year-old California girl died on the Fourth of July in an incident involving illegal fireworks.
The Buena Park Police Department said it was on patrol around 9:45 p.m. after seeing a large number of fireworks being set off in the area when officers “observed family members frantically carrying a child into a residence,” according to a press release.
Officers responded and found the girl had “suffered critical injuries, consistent with a fireworks-related explosion.” Police said they “quickly began life-saving efforts,” and she was transported to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
