RICHMOND, Va. — A postgame fireworks show at CarMax Park malfunctioned Thursday night, sending several fireworks skittering toward the stands instead of into the sky — and the Richmond Flying Squirrels are now moving all future fireworks shows offsite to The Diamond while they investigate what went wrong.
The Richmond Flying Squirrels called it a “fireworks malfunction” in a statement released shortly after midnight, saying no one was seriously hurt. The team is working with the company behind the show, Pyro Shows, to determine what went wrong.
The Richmond Fire Department confirmed Friday that its investigation determined the fireworks were deployed from their secured placement in an unintended direction. No serious injuries were reported.
Jack Snead, who was attending his first game at the new stadium and was sitting in centerfield, captured the incident on video. He said the show appeared to be proceeding normally before things went sideways.
WATCH: Videos capture ‘wild’ fireworks malfunction at CarMax Park
Videos capture ‘wild’ fireworks malfunction at CarMax Park
Snead said the show lasted about 2.5 minutes in total, with the malfunction beginning roughly halfway through.
“When I started seeing more of them like shooting all over the place, and the smoke was moving in all different kind of directions, that’s when I started to realize, ‘Hey, I don’t think something’s right,'” Snead said.
Snead’s video shows small flashes at the launch pad near second base as fireworks initially go vertical. Then two larger explosions appear at the base, and nearly three seconds later the first firework can be seen shooting toward the stands. Snead said fireworks that came toward the outfield appeared to hit the wall, with at least one going toward the bullpen area.
According to Snead, while he did not see any fireworks reach the outfield stands, it appeared some did reach the infield.
“It was just wild and I was kind of nervous,” Snead said.
After the show ended, Snead said two officers who had been at the game walked onto the field and told people to clear the area near the outfield stands.
Two fire marshals were on scene at the time of the malfunction, as is standard practice for any permitted fireworks display in Richmond, officials with the department said.
WATCH: Fan’s complete video captures Flying Squirrels fireworks malfunction from beginning to end
Fireworks fan recorded entire CarMax Park malfunction: ‘Thought it was part of the show’
A second fan, Diana Robarts, was sitting in the section on the first base side when the malfunction unfolded. She said the experience left many fans confused about whether the misfiring fireworks were intentional.
“It was really an emotion of a lot of confusion, like, is this supposed to happen or is it not? Because some things made it seem normal or that it should have been that way, and some things made it like that doesn’t seem right,” Robarts said.
Robarts said she was sitting near the person operating the fireworks and watched him closely throughout the malfunction. She said he showed no signs of distress at any point.
“He was not jumping. He was not red flagging. He was not waving people down. He was not yelling. He did not look at all like he was in distress, like something happened wrong — just acting normal and looking at the computer,” Robarts said.
The “in-your-face fireworks” branding, Robarts said, actually contributed to the confusion — many fans assumed the misfiring fireworks might be part of the show.
Pyro Shows president issued a statement apologizing to fans who experienced “this distressing event” and said technicians followed company protocol and “immediately terminated the fireworks show.” However, Snead and others who attended the game dispute that characterization. In Snead’s video, fireworks continue for one minute and seven seconds after the first one went toward the stands.
Robarts, who recorded the entire show on video because she loves fireworks, said normal fireworks continued for about a minute and a half after the first malfunction — corroborating Snead’s account and directly contradicting Pyro Shows’ claim that the show was immediately terminated.
In Snead’s video, fireworks also continue for one minute and seven seconds after the first one went toward the stands.
“I just felt like they kind of just let it all just run its course and things like that,” Snead said. “I don’t think it seemed like it was a major stop.”
In an updated statement Friday afternoon, the Flying Squirrels said postgame fireworks shows will be shot offsite at The Diamond for the foreseeable future, out of an abundance of caution and to allow a thorough review of operational and safety protocols.
“We’d like to thank VCU for accommodating us in doing so and look forward to safely hosting firework shows for the enjoyment of our fans the remainder of the season,” officials with the team said.
Fireworks displays in Virginia are governed by state code, and businesses are required to obtain a permit from the fire department to legally use fireworks in Richmond. City officials said the permitting process was followed for this event.
Robarts said when she left the stadium after the show, nobody around her seemed fazed. She only learned the fireworks had malfunctioned when she got home and saw news coverage.
Despite the scare, both Snead and Robarts said the incident will not keep them away from future Squirrels games.
“In a weird way, it kind of made it more exciting,” Snead said. “I’m not sure I would want to sit that close next time… I may not go tomorrow night, but probably in a few weeks or something like that.”
Watch Cameron Thompson’s reporting on CBS 6 and WTVR.com. Have something for Cam to investigate? Email him.
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