Catonsville Fireworks Show Cut Short, Reason Unclear: Officials

Fireworks ended early in Catonsville Friday night, according to many who attended the Independence Day display.

There was no known problem that would have caused the affair at Catonsville High School to be abbreviated, officials said Saturday.

"I was not made aware of any issues which would have caused them to end early," Baltimore County Fire Marshal Bruce Schultz said of the fireworks.

The Baltimore Sun reported that a man was injured and the show stopped early. However, Baltimore County's emergency management spokesman said the medical situations were not tied to the fireworks show.

"There were some medical emergencies that were handled," Lt. Paul Massarelli of Baltimore County Fire Department and Emergency Management said. Crews working Friday night were "not aware of any injuries due to fireworks at Catonsville High School....We're not sure why the fireworks were canceled early."

Some attendees said fireworks were too close for comfort, reportedly burning the ground and in one case, a person's shoe.

Burning embers hit the putting green, according to Lorena and Dave Streb of Baltimore, who said the blaze was quickly extinguished. Katherine Vaughn reported the sparks were hitting the clubhouse roof on the golf course as well.

Craig Shointuch of Owings Mills reported that his shoes were slightly burned from fireworks hitting the crowd.

This wasn't the first time that the fireworks were cut short in Catonsville.

In 2001, the bomb squad and crime lab took over after fireworks landed in the middle of the crowd, sending one woman into labor and injuring nine people, The Baltimore Sun reported.