Civil War Cannon Explodes, Sends 3 Kids to Hospital

Three kids in Orem, Utah, were injured during a parade Saturday night when a Civil War re-enactment got out of control, KSTU reports. The children—all of them participating in the re-enactment and parade, according to the Daily Herald—were injured during a ceremonial cannon firing after a spark from the cannon ignited the contents of a pouch that contained more cannon charges, causing the pouch to explode. "One little girl's clothes were on fire, we're told," one witness tells KUTV, according to CNN. "We saw three different kids on fire," another says.

The flames were quickly extinguished by bystanders using their water bottles and instructing the children to stop, drop, and roll. Though authorities reported three kids were sent to the hospital, one witness says four children were hurt, a girl and three boys aged 10 to 12. They suffered first and second-degree burns to their waists and arms; all were in stable condition immediately following the incident. An investigation has been opened. (More children stories.)