Staff reports
Sunday, July 5, 2015 10:37 am
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AUGUSTA, Maine - A Lebanon man was among several injured around the state while lighting off fireworks during 4th of July festivities Saturday night, including a fatal incident up north.
According to the Lebanon Fire Department Facebook Page, crews were dispatched to Little River Road for a patient with burns due to fireworks. The patient was transported to Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford.
The burns were thought to be severe enough for a Medflight from Maine Med, but after evaluation at the Sanford hospital it was determined the victim could be treated there.
The identity of the victim and exact location and time of the incident were not released.
Meanwhile, in Calais a young Calais man was killed Saturday night when he placed a fireworks mortar tube on top of his head and set it off. Devon Staples, 22, who had been drinking with friends, died instantly in the mishap around 10 p.m.
It was the first death attributed to fireworks since they were legalized in Maine two years ago.
Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland said there were also burns and eye injuries involving fireworks Saturday night in Friendship, Jefferson and Woodstock.