Campus Alert Archive
BYU

Rogue Rockets at the Flag Ceremony: How a 36-Shot Firework Box Misfired Into 26 Fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium

UTinfrastructure failureadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On July 4, 2024, at approximately 8:47 PM MDT, fireworks malfunctioned during the flag ceremony at the Stadium of Fire at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, shooting into the crowd and injuring 26 people, with four directly struck by firework components. The show paused for approximately 15 minutes while Provo Fire and Rescue and BYU Emergency Medical Services attended to spectators; the Jonas Brothers then headlined the remainder of the event.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
26
Institution
Brigham Young University
Private R1 · UT
~34,000 studentsBYU Emergency Notification System
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTin-person
Approximate reconstruction215 chars
[Stadium of Fire PA: Medical personnel are responding to an incident on the field and in the lower sections. Please remain calm and stay in your seats. Do not move toward the field. Emergency services are on scene.]

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

At approximately 8:47 PM MDT on July 4, 2024, during the flag ceremony portion of the Stadium of Fire program at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium, fireworks from a 36-shot multi-tube device misfired and shot into the crowd rather than upward; the show had begun with the Jonas Brothers performing before the flag ceremony
Four people were directly struck by firework components; 22 others were injured by debris, burns, or proximity blast effects; Provo Fire and Rescue and BYU Emergency Medical Services responded immediately to the field and lower seating sections
The Stadium of Fire is an annual America's Freedom Festival event held at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium each July 4; the event typically draws more than 60,000 attendees
UPDATEin-person
Approximate reconstruction339 chars
[Stadium of Fire PA: Emergency services have responded and all injured individuals are being treated. The fireworks portion of this evening's program has been modified. The Jonas Brothers will now continue. We thank you for your patience and are grateful for the quick response of Provo Fire and Rescue and BYU Emergency Medical Services.]

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The show paused for approximately 15 minutes as Provo Fire and Rescue and BYU EMS triaged and treated the 26 injured spectators; none of the injuries required hospitalization for life-threatening trauma
The Jonas Brothers continued their headlining set after the medical response was complete; footage of the fireworks misfiring was widely shared on social media, drawing national news coverage
BYU's campus is immediately adjacent to LaVell Edwards Stadium; both BYU Emergency Medical Services and Provo Fire and Rescue responded within minutes of the malfunction
FOLLOW-UPWebsite
Approximate reconstruction709 chars
[Provo Fire & Rescue -- Stadium of Fire Fireworks Investigation Report: The fireworks malfunction on July 4, 2024 occurred as a result of an uncontrolled deflagration of whistle composition in two successive tubes of a 36-shot multi-tube kick device. The two tubes did not ignite as intended, which allowed fire to ignite the materials too quickly, causing an explosive jolt that changed the device's angle to point into the stadium. Twenty-six individuals sustained injuries; four were directly struck by firework components. All injuries were non-life-threatening. Provo Fire and Rescue recommends that future events of this type implement additional safety setbacks and verify device integrity before use.]

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The Provo Fire Marshal's February 2025 report identified the cause as an uncontrolled deflagration in two defective tubes of a 36-shot kick device; the jolt from the first defective tube changed the device's firing angle toward the crowd
The Stadium of Fire announced changes to its 2025 safety procedures following the report, including increased setbacks and enhanced pre-show device inspections
The malfunction occurred at approximately 8:47 PM during the flag ceremony, before the main fireworks finale; the primary fireworks show was modified or curtailed following the incident
Context

Background

The July 4, 2024, Stadium of Fire fireworks malfunction at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium illustrates how pyrotechnic failures at large campus venues can produce mass-casualty conditions with minimal warning. The Stadium of Fire is an annual event held at BYU in Provo, Utah, as part of America's Freedom Festival; the event draws more than 60,000 spectators and combines a major concert with a fireworks display. On July 4, 2024, the Jonas Brothers headlined the event. At approximately 8:47 PM MDT during the flag ceremony, a 36-shot multi-tube firework device malfunctioned: two tubes did not ignite as intended, allowing an uncontrolled deflagration that simultaneously sent an explosive jolt through the device and changed its firing angle from vertical to into the stands. Fireworks shot into the crowd, striking four people directly and injuring 22 others through burns, debris, and proximity blast effects. Provo Fire and Rescue and BYU Emergency Medical Services responded immediately; the show paused approximately 15 minutes for triage before the Jonas Brothers concert resumed. All 26 injuries were non-life-threatening. Provo Fire Marshal released a formal investigation report in February 2025 detailing the technical cause and recommending safety improvements. The Stadium of Fire announced enhanced safety protocols for its 2025 event. The incident underscores a recurring pattern: large-scale pyrotechnic displays at university venues are managed by outside contractors but occur on institutional grounds, creating ambiguity in safety oversight and emergency response authority.
Analysis

Key Findings

Twenty-six people were injured at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium on July 4, 2024, when a 36-shot firework device misfired during the Stadium of Fire flag ceremony and shot into the crowd at approximately 8:47 PM MDT
Four people were directly struck by firework components; all 26 injuries were non-life-threatening
Provo Fire and Rescue and BYU Emergency Medical Services responded immediately; the show paused approximately 15 minutes before the Jonas Brothers concert resumed
Provo Fire Marshal's February 2025 investigation report attributed the malfunction to an uncontrolled deflagration that changed the device's firing angle toward the crowd
The Stadium of Fire announced enhanced safety protocols for its 2025 event following the investigation
Outcome
Twenty-six people injured, four directly struck by firework components. None of the injuries were life-threatening. Show paused approximately 15 minutes for EMS response; the Jonas Brothers concert continued after the medical response. Provo Fire Marshal released an investigation report in February 2025 attributing the malfunction to an uncontrolled deflagration in a 36-shot multi-tube firework device that changed the firing angle into the crowd.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    Rogue fireworks cause injuries at Stadium of Fire - BYU Daily Universe
    universe.byu.edu
  2. News
    Stadium of Fire firework injuries, safety tips - Deseret News
    deseret.com
  3. News
    Provo Fire Marshal explains firework failure that left dozens injured at 2024 Stadium of Fire show - Gephardt Daily
    gephardtdaily.com
  4. News
    Stadium of Fire report reveals cause of July 4 firework malfunction that injured 26 - Deseret News
    deseret.com
  5. News
    Multiple people injured after errant fireworks shoot into crowd at Stadium of Fire - KUTV
    kutv.com
Tags
infrastructure-failurefireworks-accidentcrowd-emergencyevent-safetystadiumpyrotechnicsutahprivate-r1mass-casualty
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion