The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office, referencing a deadly explosion in Trumbull County that killed one man and critically injured two others, urged caution Wednesday after a sharp rise in fireworks-related incidents during the Fourth of July holiday period.

In Liberty, a June 7 explosion at a home at the corner of Montrose Street and Northlawn Drive, caused by illegal fireworks, killed Justin Braun, 34, according to Liberty police.

The blast, which occurred just before 9:30 p.m. that night, also critically injured another man and a 4-year-old, who were flown to trauma and burn centers in Cleveland.

Liberty fire Chief Doug Theobald said the explosion, which left a large gap in the home’s front and caused extensive damage requiring demolition, was triggered by two powerful blasts that shook homes miles away in Liberty, Girard, Hubbard and Youngstown.

The Youngstown Bomb Squad and neighboring fire departments assisted and nearby residents were briefly evacuated.

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal reported that its Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau (FEIB) investigated 15 fireworks-related incidents from July 3-5 that resulted in 31 injuries. Hospitals across the state also reported an additional 24 burn injuries tied to fireworks, a significant increase from 2024, when the FEIB recorded 14 incidents and 28 injuries for the entire year.

Ohio law permits the use of 1.4G consumer fireworks July 3-5 and the weekends immediately before and after, unless local ordinances impose restrictions. This year’s incidents included two professionals critically injured while preparing a fireworks display at the Darke County Fairgrounds and three juveniles in Pickaway County who caused significant damage to a soybean farm with fireworks.

“Although fireworks are an exciting part of Fourth of July celebrations, they can be extremely dangerous,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “It’s critical that anyone setting off or handling fireworks use extreme caution in order to keep themselves and others safe.”

State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon talked about the risks, discussing dry conditions, extended celebrations and incidents involving both consumers and professionals that contributed to the spike.

“Consumer-grade fireworks are legal in Ohio, but they must be handled with extreme caution and used in full compliance with the law,” Reardon said.