Father’s Fireworks Gift Burns Two Homes

(HorizonPost.com) – A Long Island man was arrested last week and faces multiple charges, including arson and child endangerment after he gave an 11-year-old child fireworks that set fire to a shed, causing two homes to burn on the July Fourth holiday.

According to the Nassau County Police, 33-year-old Karamjit Singh of Levittown was charged with reckless endangerment, arson, unlawfully possessing fireworks, unlawfully supplying fireworks to someone under 18, and endangering the welfare of a child after he provided the 11-year-old the fireworks the child used to cause the fire.

The incident occurred on the morning of July 4. Singh reportedly instructed the child on how to ignite the fireworks, but they malfunctioned, causing a detached shed to burst into flames.

The fire quickly spread to Singh’s home and then set fire to the neighboring home as well. By the time the Wantagh Fire Department arrived at the scene, both homes were extensively damaged in the blaze. However, no injuries were reported.

While Singh was arrested for the incident, the 11-year-old was detained and released to a family member.

At least five people were injured from fireworks during Independence Day celebrations on Long Island last week.

During a fireworks display at a residence in Port Jefferson Station, four people, including an 8-year-old girl, suffered burns after one firework went astray.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year fireworks are responsible for over 31,000 fires nationwide.

In 2023, 9,700 Americans were sent to emergency rooms from fireworks-related injuries and another eight were killed, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2023 Fireworks Annual Report. The most common injuries were to the fingers and hands.

A Chicago man was killed on the night of July 4th after he went to check on a firework that failed to immediately explode.

Earl Lory, 34, suffered significant trauma after he picked up the mortar tube containing the firework and it exploded in his hand. According to the Cook County medical examiner, Lory suffered head injuries from the explosion and was killed.

Fireworks were also responsible for at least 13 fires in the Chicago area last Thursday, the highest number of July 4th fires in the past twenty years.

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