Fans at a Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game were forced to flee their seats when a planned fireworks display malfunctioned on Thursday evening. The incident occurred at CarMax Park in Richmond, Virginia, sending fireworks and smoke into the stands.
According to the team, no serious injuries were reported as a result of the malfunction. One attendee, Alyssa Durden, described the initial confusion, stating that her family initially thought the team was testing a new type of firework. "Once we saw it hit the bullpen and pop up into the stands, we realized some of the mortars must have fallen over," she told Scripps News. "Our kids were understandably scared. Thankfully, no one was hurt."
The Richmond Flying Squirrels organization stated they are collaborating with investigators, including Pyro Shows, the company responsible for the display, and the Richmond Fire Marshal's Office, to ascertain the cause of the incident.
In response to the malfunction, the Flying Squirrels announced that all postgame fireworks shows will be relocated offsite to The Diamond for the remainder of the season. This decision aims to allow for a thorough review of operational and safety protocols. The team expressed gratitude to Virginia Commonwealth University for accommodating the temporary relocation.
Pursuant to the incident, Pyro Shows issued an apology, confirming that their technicians followed company protocol to immediately terminate the fireworks show upon detecting the malfunction. The company stated it is actively investigating the root cause in conjunction with fire department and safety officials, emphasizing that safety has been a primary focus for their organization for over 50 years.
The minor league team, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, lost the game to the Hartford Yard Goats with a score of 3-1 before the fireworks incident. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Richmond Flying Squirrels, Pyro Shows, and the Richmond Fire Marshal's Office for further comment.