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1^st Briefing, 9 a.m.

State Fire Marshal, Local Police and Fire Investigate Cause of Fireworks Incident

The State Fire Marshal's Fireworks Incident Team (FIT) was dispatched to Sandusky County following an incident at a Woodville fireworks festival last night. Early into the show, a prepackaged mortar device resembling a roman candle fell over, shooting multiple projectiles into the crowd. There were 11 people injured, primarily with 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns. All have been treated and released.

An investigator with the Fire Marshal's office was at the festival with his family and worked to secure the scene while local authorities tended to the injured. Two additional investigators, three code enforcement officials and the pyrotechnics administrator for the Marshal, have since joined the investigation. The FIT is working in conjunction with the Woodville police and fire departments.

The investigation may take several days. As of 9 a.m., July 5, 2000, the following was known:

The fireworks were supplied by Colonial Fireworks of Clayton, Michigan. They are properly licensed as an Out-of-State Shipper by the Ohio Department of Commerce; and

The shooter was Charlie Mikolajezyk of Temperance, Michigan. He holds a current Fireworks Exhibitors License by the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Investigators continue to work on the following aspects of the investigation:

A physical examination of the scene, including the distance from the device involved in the accident to the crowd;

A physical examination of the device to determine type, size and potential reasons for its tipping;

A review of records for both the Shipper and Shooter involved, as well as for the Shooter's Assistants; and

Interviews with witnesses and victims.

An overview of frequently asked fireworks questions can be found at: http://www.com.state.oh.us.

No new information on this incident will be available until the next briefing, at 3 p.m. today

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