Delmar house fire caused by legal fireworks

DELMAR, Md. – Officials are sharing a cautionary tale of how fireworks can cause major damage, if they aren’t used safely. A family of 12 is now without a home because a firework wasn’t thrown away correctly.

“All I heard were fireworks when I was outside last night. But I wasn’t too sure if they were coming from here,” says Rogan Evans, a young neighbor who knows members in the family.

Neighbors’ suspicions and worst fears have come true.

“At first when I heard about it I thought it was a lie, up until I saw it. And then I was just upset when I saw the house,” says Evans.

Officials say fireworks are the reason a family is now without a home.

“I saw lots of firetrucks and I saw the house on fire and lots of smoke,” says Dakota Boyer, another young neighbor who knows members in the family.

A home on East Elizabeth Street in Delmar went up in flames, early Friday morning.

“I saw my friend’s house on fire and then I started crying,” says Boyer.

Even with 50 firefighters battling the blaze, officials say almost $60,000 worth of damage was done. The fire impacted a family living in a community, where everybody knows everybody.

“There are a lot of people in this neighborhood that are a part of their family,” says Evans.

Boyer tells 47 ABC she was best friends with one of the girls in the family. “She came running over to me and said my name and was crying really bad,” Boyer says.

And now she’s heartbroken that her best friend might not be around as often.

“They had to move and I won’t to be able to play and hang out with her anymore,” says Boyer.

It’s a tragedy that even the youngest neighbors say is something they never want anyone to go through.

“I just see a family that lost their home,” says Evans.

If there’s anything to be learned here, it’s that even legal fireworks are dangerous and can pose their own risks. So if you are using fireworks this Fourth of July weekend, officials are reminding everyone to make sure they are drenched in water after they are lit so they don’t reignite.

Luckily, everyone in the family made it out safely and no injuries were reported. The Red Cross is helping the family get back on their feet.