An explosion believed to have been caused by illegal fireworks sent five people to the hospital and damaged nearby buildings and vehicles Saturday, Salem Police said.
According to a Sunday news release, the blast happened around 10:45 p.m. at a home in the 4200 block of Prairie Star Court Northeast.
Five people were hurt, police said, four of them seriously. As of Sunday afternoon, none of the injuries were reported to be life-threatening, police said.
The explosion damaged buildings and vehicles in the surrounding area, police said. Preliminary investigation indicates the blast was caused by “illegal mortars used outside of manufacturing guidelines,” the news release said.
Salem’s felony crimes unit is investigating, along with the police bomb squad, the fire marshal and the city’s crime lab, officials said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.
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