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Firework Injures Up To 18 Students At Middle School In Menifee

MENIFEE (CBSLA.com) — Officials say as many as 18 students suffered minor injuries Friday when a firework went off at a middle school in Menifee.

A male student at Ethan A. Chase Middle School lit a firework inside a trash can in the center of the quad, according to Trevor Painton, assistant superintendent of the Romoland School District.

The sound of the blast caused ear injuries to up to 18 students. Five of them were taken to a hospital.

"It blew up a trash can and my friend got hit by it so we all got scared and a few of my friends were actually crying because they got scared," an unidentified female student told KCAL9's Crystal Cruz.

Painton says the student who lit the firework was cooperating with school administration. They have surveillance video of the explosion.

The district notified parents and students by phone of the incident.

"Well, it shocked me when I got a call from my granddaughter. You know, especially being out here in a rural area, we don't usually have things like that happening around here," one man said.

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