State Fire Marshal’s Office investigates fireworks death, injuries

Sun, 07/05/2015 - 10:45am

    The State Fire Marshal's Office said a Calais man was killed July 4 when setting off fireworks in Calais. Fire Investigators also say there were injuries from private fireworks incidents the same night in Friendship, Jefferson, Lebanon, and Woodstock, involving burns and eye injuries.  A list of those incidents are being compiled by the Fire Marshal's Office, but no details are expected until later today, according to the Maine Office of Public Safety. 

    Devon Staples, 22, of Calais was killed last night, July 4, in a backyard wher Staples and his friends were setting off the fireworks.  

    Investigators said Staples had placed the fireworks mortar tube on top of  his head and  set it off, according to a news release from Maine Office of Public Safety.  

    The explosion caused a  fatal head injury and he died instantly about 10 p.m.  Staples had been drinking with friends at one of their homes on South Street, according to the release.  

    It was the first death attributed to fireworks since fireworks became legal in Maine a couple of years ago.