A Walk in the Park: Fireworks Explosion In Pelham Bay Park Shatters Windows Scares Residents

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Fireworks Explosion In Pelham Bay Park Shatters Windows Scares Residents

Police investigate the scene of a large explosion last night on a Pelham Bay Park baseball field where someone set off fireworks around 11:15 p.m. causing a huge blast and broke windows a block away. (Photo: William C. Lopez)

Bronx

A massive explosion rocked the Bronx tonight when a box of fireworks detonated in Pelham Bay Park at about 11:15 p.m., an FDNY spokesperson said, according to the New York Post.

The explosives were in a garbage pail that was left on a pitcher’s mound on a baseball field in the park, law enforcement sources said. The pail was turned to shrapnel in the blast, but there were still a number of unexploded fireworks left scattered around.

““These were high grade professional fireworks, very strong fireworks,” an NYPD source said.

Residents throughout the borough reported hearing the blast.

Many ran into the streets to see what was going on.

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About 100 calls were made to 911 on Monday night after an explosion was heard and felt in homes around Pelham Bay Park. A mesh trash can had been put at the park's baseball diamond and filled with commercial-grade fireworks that, after they had been detonated, caused some windows to break. No injuries were reported and DNA testing was being conducted on duct tape and a box used in the detonation. (Photo: Enid Alvarez/New York Daily News)

Detonated Fireworks Cause Loud Explosion in Bronx: FDNY

Police say that fireworks were detonated from a trash can, sending out vibrations that could be felt for miles. The incident generated 911 calls from two states. (@roblafata)

It was not clear why the explosives went off, but there were no reported injuries.

Houses as far as a block away from the park suffered shattered windows.

“There was shaking, just crazy shaking, I heard a loud boom, two of the windows on my house cracked,” said Nick Pjetromi, 37. “We were all scared, especially my kids.”

People took to Twitter to report hearing the blast from as far away as Glen Cove on Long Island.

Early this morning police could still be seen searching the area. While officials suspected the explosives were fireworks, they could not say who set them off.

Police took the unexploded fireworks to the NYPD firing range and detonated them.