Fireworks Ignite in Boy’s Pocket--2nd-Degree Burns

An 8-year-old Los Alamitos boy received second-degree burns Thursday after fireworks he had stuffed in his pocket ignited, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded to a call at 10:31 a.m. in the 11000 block of Enterprise Drive, where paramedics treated the youngster for burns to his right thigh, said Capt. Scott Brown of the Orange County Fire Authority.

The child was taken to Martin Luther Hospital in Anaheim for further treatment, Brown said.

The boy apparently got a box of popping caps at the supermarket, put them in a potato chip container and stuffed it into his pants pocket, Brown said. As the youngster ran down the street, the caps began popping.

“It’s a freak accident,” Brown said. “This comes on the heels of a number of cities that are debating whether they can use fireworks for the millennium celebration, and our position is that there is no safe celebration that involves fireworks.”

Los Alamitos officials expressed concern about the incident because all fireworks, including popping caps, are illegal in the city.

“We do not allow the sale or use of any fireworks or explosives,” City Manager Robert Dominguez said. “We want to protect the safety of our children, residents and businesses at any cost.”

Dominguez said the city will investigate the incident.