12-year-old hospitalized after firework accident in Port Moody

A 12-year-old boy was taken to hospital after an exploding firework struck him in the face near Port Moody’s recreation complex Friday evening, according to a Port Moody Police Department release. Police went to the centre at about 8:20 p.m. after a resident reported youths setting off fireworks. Officers found the boy had been injured by a firework set off by one of his friends. The boy’s friends ran from officers and were found a short distance away.

The boy’s injuries are not life-threatening, police said. One of his eyes was affected, and he likely suffered burns. Police determined the incident was an accident; the youth who set off the firework was fined $500.

Port Moody Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Sam Zacharias said the incident is a reminder of the inherent dangers of fireworks being set off by people who have no business doing so. The city’s bylaws prohibit fireworks year-round; they may be set off only with a permit obtained through Port Moody Fire Rescue.