FIREWORKS SPECIALISTS RECOVERING FROM BLAST.Byline: - Holly Edwards Two pyrotechnicians were recovering Monday from injuries suffered when a rocket exploded prematurely during a Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to display at Calabasas High School Calabasas High School is a four-year high school, freshman-senior, in Calabasas, California, United States. Calabasas High School, which serves portions of Calabasas and the West Hills, Los Angeles, California section of Los Angeles, is one of three high schools in the Las , officials said. David McGregor David Blaine McGregor (born February 7, 1909 - died ?) was a British water polo player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was part of the British team which finished eighth in the 1936 tournament. He played three matches. External links
n. 1. A pyrotechnist. pyrotechnician a person skilled in the use and handling of fireworks. Also pyrotechnist. See also: Fireworks for Rialto-based Pyro Spectaculars, was airlifted Thursday to UCLA Medical Center UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. It is rated as one of the top three hospitals in the United States and is the top hospital on the West Coast according to US News & World Report. with burns and severe throat injuries, authorities said. He underwent surgery Friday night and was listed in fair condition Monday in the intensive care unit, hospital officials said. The second victim, Chester Sharp, was treated at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Woodland Hills for minor burns and cuts. About 3,500 people had gathered for the celebration, and hundreds of people in the front rows witnessed the explosion. ``It was a devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. , very upsetting thing to see,'' said Calabasas Community Services Director Jeff Rubin. ``We'd had a phenomenal outpouring of concern from the community. I probably got 100 calls from people asking how the people were.'' Witnesses said the explosion occurred directly in front of McGregor. ``He was setting off the fireworks display when one of the fireworks rockets detonated at chest level, right in front of his face,'' said Sheriff's Deputy Matt Dunn, who witnessed the mishap. Sharp was injured by flying shrapnel from the explosion. The explosion occurred at 9:15 p.m., halfway through the fireworks show, Dunn said. The show was immediately canceled and the area cleared as a medical evacuation helicopter was dispatched to transport McGregor to the hospital, he said. A spokeswoman for Pyro Spectaculars said the company has not yet been able to speak with McGregor to find out what occurred. The company is one of the largest fireworks display companies in the world and staged more than 400 fireworks shows nationwide on the Fourth of July, company spokeswoman Cheryl Samperio said. ``These kind of low-burst accidents happen very rarely,'' she said. ``It is very lucky that David wasn't more seriously injured, but we haven't been able to speak to him to determine how this happened.'' This is the fifth year that the city of Calabasas has contracted with the company to stage the Fourth of July fireworks display, Rubin said. Despite the accident, the city anticipates working with the company next year, he said. |
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