Fireworks malfunction at CarMax Park sends fans scrambling after Flying Squirrels loss, investigation open
A post-game fireworks display at CarMax Park misfired Thursday night when pyrotechnics began tracking parallel to the ground, with fireballs reaching the bleachers and sending a portion of the crowd toward the…
A post-game fireworks display at CarMax Park misfired Thursday night when pyrotechnics began tracking parallel to the ground, with fireballs reaching the bleachers and sending a portion of the crowd toward the concourse. The Richmond Flying Squirrels, the San Francisco Giants' Double-A affiliate, had absorbed a 3-1 loss to the Hartford Yard Goats before the evening took a second turn. No injuries were reported.
What happened at CarMax Park
Video of the malfunction spread across social media after the game. The footage made the problem legible in a way that pyrotechnics incidents sometimes do not: the first visible indicator was fireworks traveling horizontally rather than skyward. The off-axis trajectory was not subtle.
Once the misdirected fireworks became apparent, fans in the stands responded in two ways. A significant portion of the crowd moved immediately toward the concourse. Another group stayed in their seats and watched as fireballs came into the seating area. Both responses are visible in the footage that circulated widely after the game.
The Flying Squirrels held the display despite the loss on the field. Pre-planned promotions in minor league baseball typically run regardless of outcome, and Thursday's event followed that pattern. The show proceeded as scheduled over CarMax Park.
Late-July context
The incident sits outside the window when fireworks-related mishaps at events tend to cluster. Fourth of July weekend carries most of the concentrated exposure for that category of incident. A display going wrong in late July falls well past that stretch, making the CarMax Park event a standalone case rather than part of a seasonal pattern.
What to watch
The Flying Squirrels and Pyro Shows, the company that produced the display, are investigating the cause, according to WRIC. No cause has been publicly attributed. The next development is whatever their joint review determines.
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Filed via foxnews.com