PROVO, Utah — The Provo City fire marshal has officially disclosed the cause of a fireworks malfunction that resulted in dozens of injuries during the 2024 Stadium of Fire event on Independence Day. According to Fire Marshal Lynn Schofield, the incident was the result of a manufacturing defect in the fireworks, which caused them to misfire into the crowd, injuring at least 27 people.
The fireworks display, which was held at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, quickly turned catastrophic when several fireworks veered off course, shooting into the audience. Six people were treated at local hospitals, with some sustaining direct hits from the misfired shells, while others were injured by shrapnel or suffered hearing damage from the explosions.
Schofield revealed on February 19 that an investigation into the incident determined that the malfunction stemmed from an internal flaw in the fireworks. Using X-ray technology, investigators examined two of the faulty firework tubes and discovered an issue with the “whistle composition” — a highly energetic pyrotechnic mixture used in the fireworks to provide thrust. The investigation found that the composition had become unstable, which caused the fireworks to explode sideways, sending debris into the crowd.
While the fireworks had been used safely in previous years, Schofield made it clear that the faulty design would not be used again in future events. “You will never see a whistle inside of the stadium as long as I’m the fire marshal,” Schofield declared.
The investigation also found fragments of the whistle composition embedded in one victim’s forehead, with pieces found in the victim’s hair as well. Despite the device’s repeated use without incident in the past, Schofield emphasized that this tragic event would lead to significant changes in the handling of fireworks displays.
To prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future, Schofield proposed several key recommendations. These included enhancing product labeling, increasing the safe distance between fireworks and the crowd to 800 feet (up from the current 140 feet), and implementing more stringent safety briefings for pyrotechnic crews. Schofield also recommended the creation of a national clearinghouse for firework-related incidents to help track and minimize risks.
“No one intended for this to happen, no one is happy that this has happened, and we will learn from this,” Schofield said in a statement. He urged both pyrotechnic crews and event organizers to take every precaution when handling fireworks, reminding the public that fireworks are explosive devices and must be treated with the utmost care.
The Fire Marshal’s office is continuing to work with both the pyrotechnic crew involved and fire safety officials to ensure that safety measures are put in place for all future fireworks displays in the area.