Update: Fireworks blamed for Ercolini Park ‘boom’

10:55 PM: We’ve received a few reports of a loud explosion-type sound within the past hour; fire crews went to the Ercolini Park area but cleared out fairly quickly, and now they’re in that area again. (minutes later) The second crew has not found any signs of a fire or other problem, so they’re clearing out too.

11:13 PM: Our crew went to the areas that fire crews responded to – no fire, no police, nothing going on. (added) We’re checking with the precinct, but in the meantime, commenters here and on Facebook say it appears to have been something set off in the Ercolini Park porta-potty.

11:31 AM WEDNESDAY: Confirmed by SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore – “At 9:48 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to reports of port a potty fire in the alley near the park at 48th Avenue SW/ SW Alaska Street. The firefighters did not find a fire but discovered fireworks set off inside the port a potty. At 10:50 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to 4500 block of 48th Avenue SW to reports of an explosion at the park near the port a potty. A caller said it sounded like an M80. There was no fire at this scene. The Fire Investigators were notified of both incidents.”

Rick June 5, 2012 (11:07 pm)

heard it pretty loud and clear around 48th and findlay

Hollyplace June 5, 2012 (11:10 pm)

We could hear it loud and clear near Morgan Junction. Just one loud boom.

Gary June 5, 2012 (11:13 pm)

We heard a big BOOM at about 10:45pm. Live on 46th and Graham, saw a flash from the direction of California Ave. It was loud & sounded pretty close.

cmc June 5, 2012 (11:19 pm)

Someone threw fireworks into the porta potty at Ercolini. I saw the smoke billowing out of it.

fp June 5, 2012 (11:20 pm)

I was outside with my dog and saw a bright flash out of the corner of my eye and looked over… then heard the boom a second later. Seemed like some sort of firework.

I’m on the 5900 block of 46th.

curious June 5, 2012 (11:22 pm)

Very loud boom in the Westwood area at around 10:30…

cmc June 5, 2012 (11:27 pm)

Yes, I live next to Ercolini and this was the boom around 10:15pm. Firefighters came, and inspected the scene. There was a lot of smoke coming out of the porta potty before they arrived.

Gabby June 5, 2012 (11:39 pm)

Yep heard a boom too, Gatewood / Westwood, 10:30.

Trent June 6, 2012 (7:04 am)

another boom later in Highland park. at 1:55AM, sounded like area of 12th, 13th and SW Holden

herongrrrl June 6, 2012 (7:59 am)

Wonder if that was related to the exploding trash can at Emma Schmitz View Point earlier in the evening?

rats June 6, 2012 (8:40 am)

Not the first time this has been reported. Seems like every few months there is a big boom in the junction at night. I wonder what the cause is?

WSB June 6, 2012 (8:57 am)

It’s almost always fireworks. I’m following up with SFD this morning.

Clint June 6, 2012 (10:16 am)

I heard the boom and looked out my windows and saw a light (white?) colored large SUV, like a Chevy Suburban parked at the top (south end) of the alley. A guy in a baseball hat was scrambling to get into the SUV as fast as he could and then it sped north through the alley at about 30-40 MPH and then turned East onto Oregon.

AMDG June 6, 2012 (11:46 am)

Thanks, jerks, for messing up our nice community playground. I hope they get caught and are sentenced to community service of cleaning up public porta-potties and restrooms.

J June 6, 2012 (12:49 pm)

I saw a really bright light.. that lit up my room (which faces West on 47th and Juneau) and then an extremely loud boom. I’m not close enough to Ercolni Park to see it.. unless it lit up the whole neighborhood??

Neighbor June 6, 2012 (12:51 pm)

44th & Findlay – myself and several neighbors heard a loud boom. Sounded like a gun shot. Our neighborhood watch called the police. They patrolled but didn’t find anything.

haha June 6, 2012 (1:33 pm)

Eww… Would hate to have been the first fireman to have opened the door. Hopefully for his or her sake its was serviced recently.

Lola June 6, 2012 (1:45 pm)

I heard the boom last night at about 10:30, and it did sound like an M-80. My dog always goes and hides under the bed if she hears fireworks or loud noises.

Sorry, comment time is over.