Man in his 40s seriously injured in Oak Harbor fireworks explosion

An Oak Harbor man in his 40s was seriously injured in a fireworks explosion at a residence near Northwest Dory Drive on the evening of Jan. 6. Oak Harbor Fire Department crews arrived just after 9 p.m. and found the man with severe injuries to his chest, arms and face. He was first taken to WhidbeyHealth and later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for specialized care.

The Fire Marshal reported that the injuries appeared to result from improper use of pyrotechnics and that mortar-style fireworks were suspected to have caused the explosion. The Fire Marshal declined to release the man’s name and cautioned that rumors circulating online about the severity of his injuries could not be confirmed.

The incident comes amid local rules and county-level restrictions designed to limit fireworks risks. Oak Harbor limits fireworks use to certain hours, and Island County restricts the sale and use of specific types of fireworks. County commissioners have banned the sale and use of mortar-style fireworks in unincorporated areas, citing their risk of explosive malfunction and severe injury.

State injury data typically show that fireworks incidents most often produce burns, lacerations and injuries to hands and eyes, with spikes in incidents around holidays and large gatherings. Severe blast injuries that affect the chest and face are less common but more likely to require advanced trauma care and specialized surgical intervention.

For Island County residents, the case underscores public health and equity concerns. Local emergency crews and WhidbeyHealth provide critical first response, but severe trauma often requires transfer to higher-level trauma centers in Seattle. Those transfers can create delays in definitive care and impose logistical, emotional and financial burdens on patients and their families, especially for residents with limited transportation options or financial resources.

Preventing similar events involves enforcement of existing restrictions, public education about the dangers of mortar-style and other high-risk devices, and investment in community-level injury prevention and emergency preparedness. Public health officials and local policymakers face choices about resource allocation between education, enforcement and emergency medical capacity.

This incident is under investigation by local authorities. Residents are reminded that fireworks remain regulated locally and that mortar-style devices are banned in unincorporated Island County.