A teenage boy lost a finger late Monday night after a homemade explosive blew up in his hand at the West Queen Anne Playfield, according to the Seattle Fire Department. The boy told SFD officials that he was hanging out in the park with other teens at approximately 11:30 p.m., when he found the explosive on the ground. From the SFD:
The boy says he picked the up device and it exploded, causing the severe injuries to the teenager. The force of the explosion knocked the teen out, and caused him to lose one of his fingers. The teen also had his hair singed and his leg burned.
Medics responded and immediately transported the teenager to Harborview Medical Center. At the time he was in stable condition, breathing, conscious and talking.
SFD crews say they found several teenagers in the Queen Anne Playfield setting off fireworks, and that residual fireworks were scattered around the park, as was a blown up trash can. The Seattle Police Department is currently investigating the case. From the SFD:
Fireworks are illegal in the city of Seattle. Every year the fire department responds to dozens of injuries and fires caused by these illegal items. These injuries and fires can be prevented.
According to KIRO TV, the teen was 18 years old, and paramedics were unable to locate the finger.