Kanab and Kane County area’s emergency services were on alert during New Year’s Eve festivities, with zones within Kanab and around Kane County authorized for fireworks late into the evening, and drunk driving cautions posted to Fire Department socials earlier that night.
At around 10:15 p.m., Kanab City Fire Department crews were called to respond to a gasoline explosion in the Zion Ponderosa area. According to reports from on-scene responders, celebrants had home-made fireworks using a gasoline can, which detonated in a fire pit, causing critical burns to the patient. Upon arriving, emergency responders attempted to stabilize the patient during transportation by ambulance to a location suitable for a LifeFlight helicopter landing. The patient was then taken to specialty burn care.
Per the KCFD, the detonation was confined to the fire pit and immediate area, which prevented the fire from spreading to nearby brush and foliage.