10-year-old St. Paul boy recovering after being hit with defective firework
10-year-old St. Paul boy recovering after being hit with defective firework
A relaxing Father's Day took a devastating turn for one St. Paul family. Heidi and John Beard had just finished up dinner with their son, Jacob, and headed outside to watch a neighbor's fireworks display from the driveway.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A relaxing Father's Day took a devastating turn for one St. Paul family.
Heidi and John Beard had just finished up dinner with their son, Jacob, and headed outside to watch a neighbor's fireworks display from the driveway.
A few moments later, a firework suddenly shot sideways, striking 10-year-old Jacob from about 60 feet away.
"When the shot came (out), by the time I recognized it was coming at us, it had made contact with him," John told FOX 9.
"It kept burning because it was spinning and setting off sparks. It got caught on his clothing and melted the clothing to him," Heidi said.
Jacob was rushed to the Burn Center at Regions Hospital with first-, second-, and third-degree burns. Minnesota state law bans fireworks that fly or explode, and his parents think a defective firework is to blame.
"It was not operator error. It did not fall over... it was one random shot that came right out the side," said John.
The physical recovery will be long, with skin grafts and surgery in the future, but the mental toll this has taken on Jacob will also be great.
"He said he might be afraid of summer from now on, even though it's his favorite season," said Heidi.
Ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, Heidi and John say they are speaking out to raise awareness and encourage everyone to enjoy fireworks safely.
"I just want everyone to be safe and know that accidents don't just happen because someone is acting silly. Accidents sometimes happen because things are defective," said Heidi.
Jacob was released from the hospital on Tuesday but is set to have surgery within the next week.
Regions Hospital shared the following safety tips with FOX 9 to prevent fireworks-related injuries.
- Never ignite devices in a container
- Never light fireworks indoors
- Keep children at least 5 feet away from sparklers; at least 20 feet away from displays that don’t leave the ground; and at least 40 feet away from fireworks that shoot into the air
- Keep a bucket of water close to fully extinguish fireworks
Measles in Wisconsin: New case confirmed in Marathon Co., 164 total cases as of Sept. 15
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has confirmed a new case of measles in Marathon County as the state continues to deal with an outbreak in southwestern Wisconsin that has risen to over 155 cases.
Hennepin Co. rejects Operation Metro Surge relief program applications after 'rigorous review'
A Hennepin County program meant to help small businesses during Operation Metro Surge approved less than half of its applications after officials flagged more than 200 for potential fraud.
Elk River High School cancels classes over bomb threat
Elk River High School canceled classes Tuesday after a bomb threat was directed at the school, police say.
Carleton College eliminates student loans from financial aid
Carleton College President Alison Byerly joins us to discuss the school’s new financial aid policy eliminating student loans from aid packages starting next fall. Grants, scholarships and student employment will replace loans for students with demonstrated financial need, including current Carleton students.
Map: America's best tippers revealed in new data
A new analysis found which states tipped the most and tipped the least on average.
Rochester schools’ Eid al-Adha closure sparks questions
Rochester Post Bulletin education reporter Jordan Shearer joins us to explain Rochester Public Schools’ decision to close for Eid al-Adha in the 2027-28 school year and the emails raising questions about the reasoning behind the decision. The district points to higher absenteeism around the holiday, while critics have raised First Amendment concerns.
Inver Grove Heights council grants data center exemption amid lawsuit
The Inver Grove Heights City Council voted Monday to approve an exemption to its data center moratorium to allow an existing project to move forward amid a legal challenge by the project's developers.
House votes to end penny production permanently: What to know
The House has advanced legislation that would formally end penny production. Here's what to know.
Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears: How to watch
The Minnesota Vikings are 1-0 after a season-opening 39-22 win over the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. This Sunday, the Vikings have another NFC North Division opponent, but they’re on the road. You can watch the game on FOX 9.
Minnesota Lynx to locally broadcast Sept. 20 game at Connecticut on FOX 9+
The Minnesota Lynx will locally broadcast their Sept. 20 game at the Connecticut Sun on FOX 9+ after streaming service Victory+ announced it was shutting down operations.