A misfired firework during Green Day’s highly anticipated debut at Coachella 2025 sent shockwaves through the crowd Saturday night, injuring several attendees and igniting a palm tree near the stage. The incident, which unfolded as the legendary punk band closed their headlining set at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, has raised urgent questions about festival safety and the use of pyrotechnics at large-scale events127.
The mishap occurred during the band’s climactic fireworks display. While most pyrotechnics exploded safely overhead, one firework veered off course, shooting directly into the audience and then striking a nearby palm tree, which quickly caught fire127. Eyewitness videos circulating on social media show festivalgoers pointing in alarm as flames engulfed the tree, with some attendees visibly shaken and covering their ears.
“A firework just exploded next to me and all my friends at Coachella. I can’t hear out of my right ear, multiple people hurt. That was insane, I thought it was a terrorist attack,” one attendee posted on X (formerly Twitter)127.
Firefighters responded rapidly, extinguishing the blaze before it could spread further. Event organizers could be heard over loudspeakers urging, “Everybody out please,” as they evacuated the immediate area around the fire1210. Despite the chaos, no life-threatening injuries have been reported, though several people described temporary hearing loss and minor injuries from the explosion1710.
The incident has sparked outrage among festivalgoers and online commentators, many of whom questioned the wisdom of using fireworks in a region recently affected by wildfires and amid high temperatures38. “After all the California wildfires, they are using pyrotechnics??!” one user commented, echoing widespread concerns about fire risk and crowd safety3.
Coachella’s official guidelines strictly prohibit attendees from bringing fireworks or explosives onto festival grounds, but professional pyrotechnics are a staple of many headline performances9. As of Monday, neither Green Day nor Coachella organizers have issued an official statement addressing the malfunction or outlining new safety measures8.
Despite the scare, Green Day’s set continued after the fire was contained, with the band delivering a career-spanning performance that included hits like “Holiday,” “Basket Case,” and “American Idiot.” Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made headlines for altering lyrics to criticize former President Donald Trump and reference the ongoing conflict in Palestine, adding a political edge to the night’s drama1310.
The festival, which draws over 100,000 fans each weekend, is set to continue with performances by Lady Gaga, Post Malone, and Travis Scott in the coming days16. However, the rogue firework incident has cast a shadow over the festivities, prompting renewed scrutiny of safety protocols at one of the world’s largest music events.
Authorities and festival organizers are expected to review the incident and may implement additional safety measures to prevent similar accidents as Coachella’s second weekend approaches811.
