Michael Anderson, The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa –
A large explosion cut the West Burlington fireworks display short last night when falling ash ignited a pyrotechnic array along the ground.
The explosion injured four employees of Yarmouth based JandM Displays, at least one of whom was taken to Great River Medical Center in an ambulance. The injuries were minor and not life-threatening, said Burlington Fire Marshal Mark Crooks.
“As soon as it happened, you knew something was wrong,” said spectator Shayna Smith. “It was very pretty, but you immediately knew that someone got hurt.”
Jeff Cole said it was unclear at first whether the explosion was part of the show or not. He said people in the crowd were clapping and cheering until it became clear something had gone wrong.
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“Everybody thought it was part of the show at first,” Cole said. “It happened so quick.”
Smith said the crowd went silent as the explosion roared into life. Rather than running away, Smith said she saw several onlookers rush toward the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train shops gravel lot where the fireworks display was held.
“People from the crowd instantly ran to help,” Smith said. “It was an immediate reaction.”
David Decoursey was watching the fireworks from the Lance parking lot. He said he took cover behind a concrete barrier when the display along the ground lit up with a flash.
“Then the barrel went up,” Decoursey said, “It looked like a jet engine going off.”
Decoursey said he saw about five or six people running away from the train shops lot, backlit from behind by the inferno.
The fireworks show, which started at 10:01 p.m., had been going for about five minutes before part of the display detonated along the ground.
Technically within the Burlington city limits, Crooks said the Burlington Fire Department was standing by with a brush truck, which began putting out the flames after the explosion.
The call came in at 10:07 p.m., and within minutes, two West Burlington fire trucks were on site.
The police showed up and cleared the crowd away. No police officers or firefighters were injured.
After the blaze was put out, Crooks said he notified the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office and was waiting for an agent to arrive on scene to assist with the investigation.
At the time, Crooks said it was unclear what the circumstances were surrounding the accident and whether it could have been avoided.
Two employees from JandM Displays who arrived from a show in Fort Madison declined comment.
