Fireworks cause house to catch fire in east Charlotte

A family of five was displaced Wednesday after their east Charlotte home was damaged in a fire caused by fireworks, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

The fire was caused by fireworks that were improperly disposed in a trash can, officials said. The incident caused $25,000 worth of damage; however, there were no injuries.

The incident was one of a few fireworks-related accidents officials responded to on Independence Day.

Elsewhere in Charlotte, three people were taken to hospitals for fireworks-related incidents, including two people who had life-threatening injuries, according to Medic.

Two people were also taken to hospitals for heat-related issues, Medic said.

In Pineville, two cars caught on fire shortly after midnight, prompting officials to encourage residents to properly dispose of their fireworks. Officials didn't say if fireworks were the official cause behind the fires.

A fireworks incident turned deadly in South Carolina, when a man in Cheraw died after an artillery shell hit him in the chest, according to WSOC. Another man in Cheraw lost part of his hand in a similar incident, officials told the TV station.

This story was originally published July 5, 2018 at 12:26 PM.