PELHAM — The number of people injured in fireworks accident at a Dodge Road home has risen to five children and six adults.

Police and fire crews were called to the home shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after a reported fireworks explosion.

Initial reports indicated that nine people were injured, but two more people drove themselves to an area hospital for treatment last night, according to Pelham Police Lt. Brian McCarthy.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the injured people,” McCarthy said. “We wish them a speedy recovery.”

Three children were treated at Shriner's Hospital for Children in Boston. Two adults also remain hospitalized. One was transferred to a hospital in Boston after being transported to a local hospital Tuesday night. The rest of the injured people were treated and released, McCarthy said.

Police have not yet released the names of those injured.

The accident took place in a home owned by Chris and Jeannie Pappathan Tuesday night.

Around noon on Wednesday, the Fire Marshal's office removed 90 boxes of fireworks from the residence. More fireworks were removed from another part of the house a short time later.

Neighbors said the couple holds an annual Fourth of July party with a fireworks display.

Pappathan family lawyer Mark Darling said the accident happened when a properly lit firework went astray into an area where other fireworks were being stored. All fireworks were lit carefully in the backyard area, he said, and nothing was lit on the deck. The accident “happened in a heartbeat”, he said.

“This was a tragic accident and nothing more than that,” Darling said.

The family is in shock and going through a difficult time, Darling said. All of the injured children are related to the Pappathans and are doing much better than previously thought, he said. One has been released from the hospital and another is expected to be released soon, he said.

Chris Pappathan is still in the hospital, Darling said. His grandson Ben, the most seriously injured child, is doing better. Jeannie's 2-year-old nephew also suffered injuries, he said.

Darling did not have information on the youngest child, believed to be about eight months old.

Although upset, the Pappathans are a strong family with deep roots in the community, Darling said. He asked that their privacy be respected during a difficult time.

The incident is being investigated jointly by the state Fire Marshal's office, New Hampshire State Police, and the Pelham police and fire departments. Police are asking anyone who attended this year's party to contact the department.

The goal of the investigation is to get a clear picture of what happened and prevent similar occurrences in the future, according to Pelham Fire Chief James Midgley.

“This is a tragedy that most likely could have been prevented had some precautions been taken,” Midgley said.

First responders had to deal with fire and mass casualities in a chaotic atmosphere, Midgley said. Local crews received mutual aid from Salem, Windham, Londonderry, and Dracut, Mass.

Fireworks are legal in New Hampshire and Pelham does not have a local ordinance regulating them, something Midgley would like to see re-evaluated.

“I think this is something that they should take a hard look at on the state level,” Midgley said.

McCarthy noted that enforcing a local ordinance would stretch resources and be difficult for a small force such as Pelham's.

William McDevitt, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, has been serving the town for the better part of two decades and said he doesn't recall the issue of a firework ordinance coming up. People generally resist too much regulation, McDevitt said, but some may now take a different view.

“I think we'll have to get a sense of what the community thinks,” McDevitt said.

jhanson@newstote.com