Fireworks blast into terrified crowd during July 4 celebrations at Utah's Stadium of Fire as 6 injured

A Fourth of July celebration at a packed Utah football stadium turned into chaos when fireworks malfunctioned and shot into the crowd, resulting in up to six people being hospitalized .

The incident unfolded during the Stadium of Fire event's opening ceremonies at Provo's Freedom Festival, held at LaVell Edwards Stadium on the Brigham Young University campus.

The show was paused for around 15 minutes as injured spectators were tended to, according to Emory Cook, a spokesperson for the Freedom Festival. While six people were taken to the hospital, details on the total number of those hit by the fireworks and the extent of their injuries weren't immediately clear.

READ MORE: July 4 horror as 3 dead and 9 injured after truck plows into crowd celebrating at NYC park

READ MORE: FBI issues chilling July 4 alert warning 'lone wolf attackers' could target big celebrations

Authorities are investigating what caused the mishap, which occurred as fireworks were set off inside the stadium while jets flew overhead. Social media videos captured some of the fireworks straying from their intended path and landing among the audience in the stands of the outdoor arena, where about 45,000 people had gathered for the sold-out spectacle.

"Definitely a firework malfunctioned, but we're still trying to figure out how that happened," said Cook.

Teresa Jack, from Provo , who witnessed the frightening scene from the field, described seeing a rocket soar over her head before it exploded in the east stands, creating a bomb-like cloud of smoke.

Chaos ensued as people in the crowd began signaling for help and shouting "stop the show" to the stage speaker, according to an attendee.

Ms Jack, who was present at the event, praised the well-coordinated efforts that helped avert a stampede, noting that people were instructed to stay seated while those injured were directed to seek medical attention at a designated tent.

Provo Fire and Rescue's Jeanie Atherton reported that their team, already on standby as the event commenced, managed to assist the injured within one minute.

Although only one individual was transported to the hospital by her department, Atherton acknowledged that others may have sought medical care independently.

The concert, headlined by the Jonas Brothers, continued after a safety clearance from the Provo fire marshal and a thorough inspection of the fireworks, confirmed BYU police spokesperson Karen Ellingsworth.

Cook said the fireworks that malfunctioned inside the stadium were small-scale compared to the grand finale pyrotechnics, which are stored outside the venue.