The child was seriously hurt around 6:45 p.m. at General Douglas MacArthur Park in the Dongan Hills section of Staten Island. Officials said the explosion injured the girl's left hand so severely that she could lose several fingers.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud blast near the park's bathroom area. Responding police officers found the girl and applied a tourniquet to her hand. She was transported to Staten Island University Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
Authorities have not said how the child came into possession of the firework or what led to the explosion. Investigators remained at the scene Tuesday night as they worked to determine exactly what happened.
One person of interest was taken into custody for questioning. No charges have been filed.
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