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Woodville Fireworks Incident

 

Fire Marshal files criminal complaints in July mishap

 

The State Fire Marshal has filed 17 criminal complaints against fireworks exhibitor Charles M. Mikolajczyk of Temperance, Michigan, in connection with a July fireworks incident that injured 11 people. The complaints include six violations of fireworks, all first degree misdemeanors, and 11 counts of negligently causing physical harm by dangerous ordnance, all third degree misdemeanors.

The complaints were based on an investigation by State Fire Marshal officials, and were authorized by the Sandusky County Prosecutor's Office. They were filed with the Sandusky County Clerk of Courts in early November. The charges include:

• two counts of permitting unregistered employees to assist in the show;
• one count of failing to halt the show in an emergency;
• one count of failing to adequately secure a mortar;
• one count failing to maintain proper distances from the mortars to the spectators;
• one count of failing to direct shells away from spectators; and
• eleven counts of negligently causing physical harm by dangerous ordnance.

The maximum penalties for each of the first degree misdemeanors is a $1,000 fine and 6 months imprisonment. The third misdemeanors each have a maximum penalty of $500 and 60 days in jail. Mikolajczyk has pled not guilty and a pre-trial has been set for December 20, 2000 at 11:15 a.m. in Sandusky County Court #2 in Woodville.

The State Fire Marshal is still considering administrative action against Mikolajczyk's fireworks exhibitor license.

The State Fire Marshal's Fireworks Incident Team (FIT) was dispatched to Sandusky County following an incident at a Woodville fireworks festival on July 4, 2000. Early into the show, a cluster of three prepackaged mortar devices resembling three-foot long roman candles fell over, shooting multiple two and one quarter inch projectiles into the crowd. There were 11 people injured, primarily with 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns. All have been treated and released. Investigators analyzed the scene, reviewed document pertaining to the show and the devices used in the show, interviewed witnesses and victims, and researched fireworks codes as they applied to the findings.

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