Town of Vienna Fireworks Disaster Update

Sweep sweep sweep....

This town suppresses news or uses disinformation or outright lies for years and years and you think it is odd?

From what I heard: one of the fireworks was thought to be a dud, and the container with the non-fired missile was kicked over (I am not sure if this standard protocol) but shortly after it was kicked over, the firework did ignite, and it went into the crowds, and exploded onto the two that were sent to the hospital.

If there is any truth to this explanation, a thorough investigation is needed, not a cover-up.

I truly doubt we will get any truth forthcoming from this town, simply because they habitually lie about things of lesser importance and of lesser consequences. If this were Fairfax, we would have heard from our Mayor at least saying something, anything, at least to prove she is not an idiot who just sticks her head in the sand when things go bad.

Lack of news, odd? Not really. Compare how long it took for the Town Council to "investigate itself" after the May election fiasco. I wouldn't expect any more news about the fireworks until Labor Day or thereabouts.

The Washington Post has an expose on it in today's Metro section.

Article.

Article.

Has the town set up a fund to help the family with the huge expenses they are incurring?

Is anyone in this town organizing support for the Hollis family in its time of need?

I'd like to offer some meals for the family and some babysitting for the 7 year old Hollis boy. If any of you is organizing this for the family, please email me at LeahKing@gmail.com.

First consider that this fireworks company was cited for not securing the boxes that injured 50 people in Pittston, Pa. Secondly, they were citied for not making recommended improvements. Because of my experience I do not understand the fireworks company handling of duds. The injury to an employee in DC is an example of mishandled duds. My father handled explosives and when he came home early on occasion he explained that he had a "cold shot". In other words the explosion did not occur. The rule was that they could not enter the blast area until the next day, thus the early end to his shift. Obviously, this rule was applied because their may be a delayed explosion and surely based on experience.

Johnson estimated 70 feet away? I thought I had heard him on one of the news channels that they were 50 feet away. Which one is it? Thank you Stephen and SERes for the links. My continued prayers for this and the other family.

In last week's post, just after July 4, many of us wondered what the Town's legal liability (above and beyond the liability of the fireworks company) might be in this situation. Any attorneys out there who can shed some light on this??

Mr. Hollis appears to be an attorney. I'm sure he knows where to go from here (if he wants to).

Ms. King I noticed no one here cared to reply to your neighborly question and your offer for help. I've inquired with a local neighbors network service and will email you when I hear from them.

From Channel 9 news - 911 tapes now released.