Several minor injuries attributable to fireworks were reported across Maine over the holiday weekend, a reminder of the perils of DIY at-home displays.

Even professionals aren’t immune.

On Friday night in York, a licensed pyrotechnician suffered first-degree burns and was transported to a hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the Maine Department of Public Safety said in a news release.

The worker, employed by Central Maine Pyrotechnics, was said to have tried to ignite a fireworks “cake” that failed to fire as expected. After the technician hunched over to see what was going on, the device suddenly exploded.

Despite his injuries, the technician was able to complete the fireworks display. He was treated and later released from the hospital.

The Maine Department of Public Safety reported at least four instances of fireworks-related injuries.

In Thomaston on Saturday, debris from the show landed on two people, causing minor injuries.

In Clinton, an 80-year-old woman suffered minor burns to her leg after a firework set off by a family member at their home veered off course and struck her, police Chief Joshua Chouinard said. The woman was treated at a hospital and is now doing fine, and Chouinard said the family followed local laws.

Another incident involved a group of people setting off fireworks on a public beach in Wells. A 5 year-old was taken to a hospital after being struck by debris but has since been released. Those involved were charged with the civil violation of setting off fireworks on public property without permission, according to public safety spokesperson Shannon Moss.

Most injuries reported were minor. Maine’s largest hospital, Maine Medical Center in Portland, reported no major fireworks-related incidents.

“We don’t really track fireworks as a separate category, and according to our emergency department chair, this year did not stand out when it comes to fireworks injuries,” hospital spokesperson Caroline Cornish said.

Maine legalized the sale and private use of fireworks in 2012, although many municipalities still prohibit them.

Since their legalization, the state has seen a variety of firework-related minor injuries and two deaths, a 22-year-old Calais man in 2015 and a 57-year-old from Lewiston in 2017.

It’s not clear how many people died this holiday weekend across the country, but a California woman was killed and others were injured after multiple fireworks exploded and set a car on fire.

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 15 reported fireworks-related deaths in 2025, most involving misuse and device misfire/malfunctions. An estimated 13,000 people were injured, including many who lost fingers or suffered severe burns.

There are precautions people can take to help limit the danger of these celebratory staples. These include not using fireworks while under the influence and not allowing children to operate fireworks or even sparklers, the latter of which can burn at upwards of 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt metal.