A community fair in Jimboomba, south of Brisbane, experienced a dangerous incident last night when fireworks malfunctioned, injuring several attendees. Children were hit by shrapnel, and a man sustained burns to his leg as explosives unexpectedly launched into the crowd during the Jimboomba Family Carnival. The injured man received first aid on-site before being transported to a hospital for further treatment.
Robert Stevenson, an operator from ACE Fireworks with five decades of experience, expressed his regret over the incident, describing it as an unprecedented failure in his career. He noted that the malfunctioning fireworks did not perform correctly and posed a threat to bystanders, causing panic among those present.
In the aftermath, the carnival’s organisers confirmed that the planned fireworks display for the following night would be cancelled to prioritise safety. Fair organiser Paul Watkins addressed the situation, downplaying the severity of the incident but admitting it was indeed frightening for everyone involved. He reassured attendees that adequate first aid was available and extended his heartfelt apologies, hoping to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
An investigation into the incident is currently underway by Resources Safety and Health Queensland to determine the cause of the fireworks failure and ensure future safety protocols.