On Friday, July 3, 2026, shortly after 9:00 pm., the York Fire Department requested that  the State Fire Marshal’s Office investigate an incident that occurred during a fireworks display on York Harbor Beach Road in York.

According to the York Fire Department, a malfunction occurred during the display, injuring the licensed pyrotechnician overseeing the event.  The technician sustained minor first-degree burns and was transported to a hospital in Portsmouth, NH, for evaluation.  The fireworks display was sponsored by the York Harbor Reading Room and conducted by a pyrotechnician from Central Maine Pyrotechnics.  Investigators and inspectors from the State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and the hospital to interview the technician.

Their preliminary investigation determined that a fireworks “cake” had been ignited but failed to fire as expected.  When the technician approached to inspect it, the device unexectedly detonated, causing the burns.  Despite the injury, the technician was able to safely complete the firewrks display before seeking medical treatment.  The technician was treated and later released from the hospital.