SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) — Homemade explosive devices blew up inside a mobile home, nearly killing a 22-year-old man in Ohio.
Police in Springfield Township said the young man was making the homemade fireworks Saturday afternoon on Coach Lane in Franks Mobile Home Park when they exploded.
Neighbors heard the blast, followed by screams and thick smoke. They called 911 and rushed over to help.
“Those windows blew out and there was glass everywhere,” said Natale Maio. “He was holding his arm, what’s left of it.”
Maio has first aid training and began applying a tourniquet while another neighbor, Dakota Worrelos, grabbed two fire extinguishers.
He didn’t know at the time that the unit had many other fireworks inside that could potentially go off.
“No, I did not know what was going on except for putting out that fire,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for Dakota, this whole park wouldn’t be here,” Maio said.
“If it wasn’t for the both of us, he would not be alive,” Worrelos said.
Springfield Township police, firefighters and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad quickly responded and got the fire under control.
They transported the resident to the hospital with “traumatic” injuries to his eye, face and hand.
A search of the location discovered many additional homemade explosives that had to be secured and diffused.
“They identified the explosive devices as soon as they got on scene and secured the mobile home so we were sure nobody else would be in danger,” said Police Chief Jack Simone.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also contacted and is working with local agencies investigating the devices. Police said they do not believe the explosives were being produced for anything malicious.
However, they are still illegal.
“He was just making them for self-use, personal use or maybe to try and sell them, but at this point, that’s what we’ve determined,” Simone said.
They also said the incident could have been so much worse if not for the quick action of neighbors and first responders. It serves as a key reminder of the danger of fireworks, especially homemade devices.
“The health and welfare of our residents is our biggest concern. Can’t stress enough the importance of fireworks’ explosive safety. One second of carelessness is a lifetime of consequences,” said Fire Chief Brett Reinbolt.