Boy hurt by fireworks explosion has warning for other kids

coryfrazier said on July 8, 2010 at 2:35 PM

Korbin, although he was warned multiple times and KNOWS the dangers of Fireworks made a very bad decision. He will carry this wound for life. Mentally and physically. I will close with this. Know the whole story before spouting some garbage in your replies. This is something that will stick with this young man his WHOLE life. Please do not take away his positive attitude with your postings as he will be reading these comments also. Thank you for your concerns and your kind and positive comments. These are what Korbin and his family need right now. Keep your negativity to yourself please.

coryfrazier said on July 8, 2010 at 2:35 PM

This gets everybody around aware and gets the kids present involved while teaching them to be safe. These are the steps we have taken since I was a child that my Father taught me. After the Firework is completely done then I move it out of the lighting area WITH A LONG HANDLED SHOVEL! It then sits 30 feet away from the lighting area where it is consumed by another fire that the children are not allowed to be around at any time. My Father lost his thumb and his first Finger in Vietnam. I have been extra careful my whole life to try to keep all of my fingers and peoples fingers around me. I KNOW what it is like to deal with these kinds of injuries as it has effected me and my Family all of our lives.

coryfrazier said on July 8, 2010 at 2:34 PM

When were lighting off fireworks that we buy there is a a very systematic way we go about it. There is a lighting station with two adults at all times where the Fireworks are lit by adults with Punks (a lighting tool much like a stick of Incense) not with lighters. These Punks are at least 12 inches long so there is less danger. When the children want to see a certain Firework be lit they MUST ask us. NO MATTER WHAT! Then one of us helps them to set up the Firework in a safe manner teaching them what is safe or not and telling them why it is not safe to set it up in a certain manner. The Adult lighting the Firework lets the group of people know that they are ready to light a Firework. Of course the group is 30 feet away from the Lighting area. Not until this is done and OK'd by the other Adult present is the Firework actually lit by the Punk ONLY. While the Firework is being lit the person lighting the Firework and anybody around MUST yell "Fire in the Hole!".

liberterius said on July 7, 2010 at 10:04 PM

Can't sue the state because you're an idiot @unhappy. If someone could we'd all be rich.

unhappy said on July 7, 2010 at 9:54 PM

should sue the state for something,,,,, you can make money when they settle.

youngfrank said on July 7, 2010 at 8:55 PM

Feel sorry for kid. Kinda mad at Dad. Darwin rules.

aziza said on July 7, 2010 at 6:37 AM

This kid is taking more responsibility than the fools who left the lighter and fireworks there! He's also taking more responsibility than the morons who take their "patriotic" right and burn down their neighbor's house in Gig Harbor. Hey, I have an idea you patriotic zealots who spend the day drinking and lighting explosives! Why not visit a vets hospital or home? Plant flowers at the veteran's cemetery? Do something for the community and country! Send packages to our soldiers stuck in Iran and Afghanistan?

cvn65 said on July 7, 2010 at 6:29 AM

Ouch, poor kid. Heal up Korbin. Don't beat yourself up to harshly. We all make mistakes. That's how we all learn. Keep telling your peers about what happened to you. Kids are more apt to listen to their peers than they do with their parents or other adults.

rightsdefender said on July 6, 2010 at 9:54 PM

Korbin, heal up big guy! My heart and prayers go to you and your family. Warm regards, Joe

yogibear said on July 6, 2010 at 8:36 PM

Korbin made a mistake, but he is taking responsiblity and talking to kids. Good or him. Parents can warn their kids all they want, but kids do dumb stuff.

realitygirl said on July 6, 2010 at 8:18 PM

I'm sorry you experienced this accident Korbin. Continue to educate others. I do it every year in Snohomish County. My son died from legal fireworks at age 13. Flash powder can ignite from static electricity. They used to refer to them as safe and sane fireworks--they're not. I hope you regain full use of your hand. It may take awhile- think possitive. Keep a journal of your recovery. Good luck my little friend.

rodknee200429077 said on July 6, 2010 at 8:12 PM

This was simply youthful curiosity getting the best of an unfortunate child. Don't go blaming the parents. How many of us did things similar as a child and only by pure luck manged to get past unhurt. My parents warned me about everything under the sun but I still did some dumb things at that age and luckily managed to get by. I'm in my mid-50's now and I can see a little of myself it that young man. He learned a very difficult lesson that only for the grace of god many of us did not have to learn the hard way. Best of luck young man and I hope you're back out there riding bikes and skateboarding soon.

slappywag said on July 6, 2010 at 8:12 PM

Um, hey George, is that a smoke ball? BOOM! Guess not! Seriously? You went out on the reservation (where we ALLLLL KNOW the illegal stuff floats around) looking for stuff to blow off after the fact? The only thing we EVER messed with after the fact was bottle rockets and maybe firecrackers. We GOT IT that maybe anything else might be dangerous. You know, the guy setting off the Acetylene and oxygen balloons in a milk crate, shaking the ground for half a mile in all directions... we stayed away from that kind of stuff because we, uh, figured it out. Ah, well, what can I say. Darwin thins out the herd as needed.

plutonomics said on July 6, 2010 at 7:55 PM

well said whatcomlocal...

jayemdub said on July 6, 2010 at 7:19 PM

Another case in point that fireworks are dangerous and not nearly as 'fun' as some people think they are. Get well young man and I hope and pray your hand heals quickly and completely. Thanks for sharing your experience and hopefully other kids will listen and be more careful.

liberterius said on July 6, 2010 at 7:11 PM

First off children don't watch the news, second I'm not sure from the state of him that he's the best one to be giving advice! HAaa haaa haaa, poof.

rastaj said on July 6, 2010 at 7:00 PM

I used to do stuff like that. You'd find all kinds of crazy stuff, and sometimes it's a mystery what it will do. I guess I was smart, and I would pull the fuse out to regain some length, and treat everything as something that could blow up

onlyinseattle said on July 6, 2010 at 6:33 PM

Hugs and prayers to you and your family! Thank you for being so brave and sharing your story.

sumithryo said on July 6, 2010 at 6:12 PM

Bless this little guy's heart! What a doll. So glad he is going to be okay!!!!

whatcomlocal said on July 6, 2010 at 6:09 PM

Children are curious and don't always follow the rules. Even the best kids break the rules and do stupid things from time to time. It's just that most of us survive our stupid mistakes. I'd be more curious about who may have left the lighter on the beach. That seems more careless than the parents.

susannes said on July 6, 2010 at 5:41 PM

You know what exhab and other people like exhab... His dad was there as was I and a lot of other responsible adults and the kids all know not to touch fireworks... Just wait until your kid doesn't follow some rule and something bad happens... but you probably don't have any kids, otherwise you would know things don't always go as planned. Don't be so quick to judge.

collegekid said on July 6, 2010 at 5:35 PM

I'm glad he is generally in good health, and I very much hope his hand heals quickly and fully. I hope other children can learn something from this.

exhab99 said on July 6, 2010 at 5:31 PM

I fault stupid parents for not properly teaching their kids. I thank God that I had a great Dad who taught me alot! Years ago, when we had the safe and sane fireworks, my Dad taught us how to light them properly, reminded us to get away quickly, and ALWAYS had a water hose in his hand ready to put out a fire. I watched idiotic kids in Kent shooting off fireworks that appeared to be the illegal kind. They were randomly lighting them in the street, not watching what they were doing. AND there were NO parents or water hose in sight!! I really wanted to go over and have a chat with the parents (or just tell the teens to aim their fireworks in the direction of their house)!!!

gixxer1k said on July 6, 2010 at 5:12 PM

HEY NWCN ! When are you going to block this stupid spammer? Ive probably flagged this losers comments 50 times now.

luna1sierra said on July 6, 2010 at 4:59 PM

where were his parents? why was he alone, picking through used fireworks? did no one explain to this child that you leave such things alone? very lucky parents, even luckier child. learn!

ruba61 said on July 6, 2010 at 4:30 PM

A very lucky boy! He could be dead! Kids all need to be with parents when lighting fireworks!

kingster said on July 6, 2010 at 4:25 PM

I feel very sorry for this young man, but what he should have said is just leave them alone. I'm glad he wasn't blinded, and hope his hand heals and he doesn't have lifelong problems with it. Parents, watch your children and forget the fireworks.