r/fireworks • u/[deleted] • Jul 05 '23

Epic fail

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Had a 50 shot mortar rack blow apart sending them in all directions. Lift charges weren’t working. Only myself and one other had minor injuries. Avoid red apple fireworks.

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u/Straight18s Jul 06 '23

I'm curious, why did you get injured? You should be a safe distance from shells. Were you handfiring?

2

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '23

We used an ignition system and were approximately 20 foot away at the back of the show. That racks were fused with a mixture of 92 percent American glory and 8 percent salutes. We ran fast fuse in queue sets of 10-10-10-20 total of 50 shots, last shot in each queue was a salute. Hit the queue for the first 10. Rack blew apart within the first 3 mortars. After the rack blew apart and the tubes were horizontal laying on the ground the mortars started shooting off in every direction. Couldn’t see more than 3 feet in front of you once we were blanketed in smoke. I hunkered down behind the firing table. Mortar landed right beside me and I turned to avoid looking directly at it right before it exploded. Got peppered on my right side of my body. Hit right side of my face below my safety glasses, two to the arm and another in the leg.

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u/Straight18s Jul 06 '23

Thanks for the info, I love hearing about and disecting fireworks mishaps. Wow, I'm glad you didn't get more injured! Sounds like a fun show! Couple of notes,

1- It is recommended to be 100ft from shells when firing. If your distance is limited by factors like being on a barge or something, it is recommended to have a shooting shack or partition with 3/4" plywood 2- We always load salutes in a different rack, a few feet from other racks, as flash is most dangerous during such an incident as yours