Authorities believe a suspected homemade firework exploded after Jason Turner picked it up near Crescent City, California.
CRESCENT CITY, Calif. — A Northern California man lost his left hand after a suspected homemade firework exploded while he was helping collect debris left behind after Fourth of July celebrations, authorities and his family said.
Jason Turner, 44, was injured July 5 at Point St. George Beach in Del Norte County. The sheriff’s office said deputies responded shortly before 4 p.m. to a report of an explosion and found a man with a severe hand injury in the beach parking area. Turner was taken by ambulance to Sutter Coast Hospital and later transferred to UC Davis Medical Center for additional treatment.
Turner and his girlfriend, Pamala Ganfield, had been walking along the beach and picking up discarded fireworks and other trash when they noticed a small metallic object in the sand, according to family accounts reported by several news organizations. Ganfield said the object exploded after Turner reached toward it.
The blast caused injuries that required doctors to amputate Turner’s left hand above the wrist, his family said. Relatives also reported that he experienced problems with his hearing and vision after the explosion. Publicly available reports said he was later moved out of intensive care, but a full prognosis had not been released.
Ganfield was not physically injured in the explosion. She told reporters that she used her shirt as an emergency tourniquet while seeking help. Authorities have not released a complete medical account of Turner’s injuries or confirmed whether any effects on his hearing or eyesight will be permanent.
The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office said investigators searched the beach area after the blast. Officials believe the object may have been a homemade firework left behind during the holiday weekend, though the exact construction and origin of the device had not been established publicly.
Turner’s relatives described him as the main provider for a household that includes two school-age children. A family fundraiser was created to help with medical bills and living expenses while he recovers. Information provided by relatives through the fundraiser has not been independently verified by authorities.
The sheriff’s office urged people who encounter a suspected explosive device not to touch or move it. Officials said people should leave the immediate area and contact law enforcement so trained personnel can examine the object safely.
Investigators have asked anyone with information about the device or the circumstances surrounding the explosion to contact the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office. No arrests had been announced, and authorities had not identified who made or left the suspected firework at the beach.
Author note: Last updated July 13, 2026.