Several people avoided serious injury in Eureka on the 4th of July after an illegal mortar firework misfired and exploded directly next to a small crowd that included an on-duty Eureka Police Department officer.

Police body camera footage of the incident shared by EPD on Facebook earlier today, shows the explosion occurring immediately after the officer warned the group that their fireworks were illegal. 

“No aerial fireworks,” the officer can be heard saying in the video immediately before the firework launches into a nearby yard. “Like those,” he said before the final explosion.

“When he arrived, a piece of a mortar broke off and exploded just feet away,” EPD wrote. “Luckily no one was badly injured, but a good reminder of the dangers of illegal fireworks.”

One person was cited for possession of illegal fireworks without a permit and 30 mortars were confiscated and turned over to Calfire as a result of the incident.