Though fireworks are a traditional staple of Independence Day celebrations, they tend to be less welcome even on that occasion when unleashed without warning.
Such was the case last Friday (July 4) at a McDonald’s in Reston. Multiple people reportedly set off fireworks inside the fast-food restaurant, sparking havoc as patrons and employees fled the quickly smoke-filled scene.
“The loud explosions and thick smoke caused panic and a rushed evacuation,” one witness told FFXnow. “However, the danger continued outside: additional fireworks had been placed near the exits, appearing to target those fleeing the scene as well as McDonald’s staff.”
The patron says the fireworks were set off around 10:15 p.m., noting that the people in the restaurant included children, teens and seniors.
Police officers responded to 11265 Roger Bacon Drive for a disorderly conduct call at 10:55 p.m., according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“We got several calls of a large group of subjects setting off fireworks inside of the McDonald’s. Fire department is also en route here,” a dispatcher said on the police scanner.
Per the scanner, McDonald’s had been evacuated by the time police and firefighters arrived, but the restaurant was still “full of smoke,” and three “fountain-style” fireworks were found inside. No actual fire was found.
According to the FCPD, officers “determined that multiple suspects lit fireworks off inside the business,” though the exact number of people involved and the total number of fireworks that were ignited remains under investigation.
“The incident was turned over to the Fire Marshal’s with the Fairfax County Fire Department for investigation,” the FCPD said.
A Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson confirmed that fire investigators are looking into the incident. No property damage or injuries were reported, she said, describing the fireworks as ones that create a lot of smoke but don’t explode.
The McDonald’s patron who alerted FFXnow to the incident says they felt the act went beyond “a reckless prank.”
“This incident not only disrupted a family-oriented space on a national holiday, it exposed serious public safety vulnerabilities,” she said.
Fireworks are generally prohibited in Fairfax County, but certain kinds, including sparklers and fountain fireworks, can be ignited on private property with the property owner’s consent. Outdoor displays must be approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal, which can issue fire prevention code permits.
According to the fire marshal’s office, firefighters across Northern Virginia see “many fires and injuries from improper use of fireworks” every year. Back in 2023, at least three people were hospitalized due to house fires that broke out on the Fourth of July.
One in Fair Oaks resulted in over $1 million in damages, and the FCFRD later confirmed that one in Herndon had been caused by improperly discarded fireworks.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors subsequently agreed to look at expanding the police department’s authority to enforce prohibitions on fireworks, which were previously solely under the fire marshal’s purview. The revision officially took effect on July 1, one of several changes to the county code approved by the board in June.
