A powerful fireworks explosion in Kent left three young brothers injured and tore through the front of their home, turning an ordinary evening into a frightening emergency. Neighbors described a blast so loud that it sounded, in one account, like a bomb going off on the residential street.
Pradeep Kumar and his wife said they had just gotten home from church when the explosion blew out the windows of the neighbors' house across the street. The force of the blast broke the windows and damaged the sides of the home, leaving obvious signs of just how violent the eruption had been.
Kumar sprinted across the street to help. He found window glass shattered across the porch and window frames bent out of shape, and inside he came upon the children, who were bleeding. His first instinct, he said, was to call 911 and get help on the way as quickly as possible.
The three brothers who live there were all hurt in the blast, with the family describing serious injuries to the youngest and the others. Neighbors said the explosion was strong enough to set off other nearby house and car alarms, underscoring how far the shockwave traveled through the neighborhood.
Fire officials pieced together how the blast happened. Fire Chief Pat Pollack said the firework was lit on or near the front porch and blew up right away, giving no one any time to react. He noted the young people involved were teenagers or younger, and stressed how quickly fireworks can turn dangerous.
Authorities also used the incident as a warning. Pollack said fireworks are illegal to discharge in Kent, and he urged anyone who comes across an unexploded firework not to touch it, but instead to call 911 so it can be handled safely.
As the injured brothers were treated, the exact type of firework and where the children got it remained under investigation. Neighbors expressed sorrow that children had been hurt, with several urging parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of fireworks so a similar tragedy might be avoided.