ROWLEY, Mass. — A Rowley man is facing charges after authorities say a firework exploded and damaged his apartment last week.
Emergency crews responding to an alarm activation in the area of 870 Haverhill Street on the morning of June 10 spoke with witnesses who said they heard an explosion and saw heavy smoke billowing out of an apartment, according to Rowley Fire Chief James C. Broderick and State Fire Marshal Pater J. Ostroskey.
An investigation revealed that the resident of the apartment, whose name has not been released, accidentally ignited a 1.4G mortar shell inside his him, authorities said.
He sustained minor injuries attempting to extinguish the fuse before the device exploded, causing damage to the floor and walls in two rooms. Smoke flooded the apartment and activated working smoke alarms.
A state police bomb squad recovered additional live shells from the man’s bedroom and destroyed them.
The man will be summonsed to Newburyport District Court at a later date.
“Illegal fireworks in a residential setting can be a recipe for disaster,” Broderick said. “The residents of this building are fortunate that these illegal items didn’t cause more damage. Please don’t risk injury, fire, or worse. Leave fireworks to the professionals.”
Massachusetts fire departments reported more than 900 fires related to illegal fireworks between 2012 and 2021.
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