Osseo -- Michigan
Man staggers 300 feet on fire
Explosion killed five
Another explosion killed seven

-- The explosion that killed five people at a fireworks factory has been classified as accidental.

The explosion at a Fireworks Company near Osseo could have been caused by something as simple as static electricity.   The sweep of the door as the owner entered the building might have been enough to ignite the explosion.

Full story -- Disasters Part  26

 

Man dies in fireworks factory accident

-- A 40-year-old Qormi man was crushed to death by a press that he was cleaning at a fireworks factory yesterday, the police said.

Carmelo Cauchi, who was working at San Bastjan factory at Wied ic-Cawsli in Qormi, died on the spot.

The police said Mr Cauchi was not making fireworks but was simply cleaning the press when the accident happened.

A fireworks expert explained that the metal press is a kind of metal box with a series of holes in it and is used to make colour fireworks.

It is a relatively recent invention which speeds up the fireworks-making process.

The expert ruled out any possibility that the man was making fireworks as "all fireworks would have been used during the feast of St Sebastian which took place two weeks ago".

He said that immediately after the feast, fireworks factories are cleaned before fresh fireworks for the following year start being made a few weeks later.

Duty magistrate Joseph Cassar conducted an on-site enquiry, appointed a number of experts to draw up a report and ordered an autopsy. The Qormi district police are investigating.

Mr Cauchi is the third person to die in a fireworks factory in less than a month. On July 4, Antoine Cilia, 36, of Dingli, and Charles Farrugia, 59, of Zebbug, died when a blast ripped through the factory of St Joseph's De Rohan Band Club in Wied Qirda, Siggiewi.

Five others were injured in what was deemed to be one of the worst fireworks factory explosions in recent history.

 

Malta
Third man in St. Joseph fireworks factory explosion passes away in hospital

2005 --A 39-year-old man involved in an explosion in the fireworks factory explosion on the 4th July, 2005 at Wied Qirda, limits of Zebbug passed away this morning.

The man was being kept at St. Luke's hospital and treated for serious injuries. The autopsy on the body will be held tomorrow morning.

In the explosion at St. Joseph's fireworks factory, two men had lost their lives whilst another was seriously injured.

Magistrate Dr. Silvio Meli has appointed various experts to help him in the investigations. The investigations are in the hands of the Qormi police.

 

--The third fireworks blast victim died on Monday as a result of severe burns and complications, over a month after the blast took place. The death of John Zammit made the headlines on Tuesday.

The Malta Independent reported that John Zammit was the only one of the five who had been injured who was still in hospital. He suffered severe burns and fractures and was in the Intensive Therapy Unit.

The Times said that the father of three would be buried on the day he had to celebrate his fourteenth wedding anniversary. The widow of Zammit told the newspaper that he was doing well and he was hopeful that he would be out of hospital in time for his daughter's confirmation in October.

L-Orizzont reported that John Zammit known as "Iz-Zelli" lost his battle as he succumbed to the injuries. He died on Monday at 0500CEST surround by his loved ones.

In-Nazzjon interviewed his wife. She said that her late husband told her that he did not heed her warnings not to go to the fireworks factory.

 

Missouri -- U.S.A.
Fireworks plant blast kills owner

-- A fireworks plant exploded and burned killing the plant's owner.    "It shook everything and lifted the roof off the building."

Firefighters said three explosions started the blaze.

This was the second fatal explosion at an eastern Missouri fireworks plant in less than a year.   In November, a woman died after an explosion at a fireworks factory in Cedar Hill, about 20 miles northeast of DeSoto.

Man burnt alive in fireworks explosion

2003 -- A man was burnt alive in a fireworks explosion in Chak 203-RB here on Monday.   He was busy in work when some fireworks exploded. As a result the shop caught fire. He sustained serious burn injuries and died on the spot.

Owens Crossroads -- U.S.A.

-- An explosion at a fireworks factory left the owner in critical condition after chemical compounds he was mixing reacted, causing a flash fire and a small explosion. This was the third explosion at this factory in nine months.

Spring Brook -- U.S.A.

-- Spring Brook Township Officials removed an unidentified body from the smoldering remains of a fireworks manufacturing plant after a series of explosions sent residents from as far as two miles away fleeing their homes several hours earlier. Another person was critically injured in the blast. The cause of the explosion was unknown.  Two men were the only people at the plant when the material exploded.  One man was rescued from the rubble and taken to Scranton's Community Medical Center. He was later transferred to the Lehigh Valley Hospital's burn unit in Allentown, where a nursing supervisor said he was listed in critical condition.  One man was listed as missing pending identification of the body.   Residents living within a two-mile radius were evacuated following the explosion.   The explosion was heard as far as 15 miles away.

U.S.A.

-- An explosion destroyed a home and scattered debris over a wide area of a south Kansas City neighborhood, killing one person and setting an adjacent house on fire.

The body of the victim was found in the house that exploded.   A large amount of explosive chemicals were found.   The type of chemicals was unknown but they appeared to be powerful pyrotechnics that would be used in making fireworks.

Wood, glass and other debris littered the streets in the area.   Some businesses close to the house that exploded had their windows blown out.   Witnesses reported a series of explosions.

Chester -- U.S.A.

-- One person was killed and three others were injured in a blaze in a Chester, South Carolina, fireworks plant that was triggered by a huge explosion. The blast at the plant threw debris and pyrotechnics 100 yards, igniting a nearby office building on fire and setting off several grass fires. One witness described hearing one small explosion, then one large explosion.

The fire started in a packaging building and ignited stored fireworks. The cause of the fire that led to the explosion was not immediately known. A 24-year-old man was killed by the blast.  Another employee was hospitalized in good condition and two others received minor injuries.

U.S.A.
Fireworks Fire Investigation

-- Investigators have completed the on-scene portion of the investigation into the fire that occurred in 1999, at a Fireworks Company, resulting in the death of five individuals.

To date, the cause of the first incident, as well as a second incident has not been specifically determined and both remain under investigation at this time.  However, there are no indications of any criminal activity in either case.

A consultant to the Fireworks Company, who also holds a federal explosives license, has voluntarily agreed to remove all of the remaining supplies, chemicals, black powder and completed products. He has also agreed to surrender both his federal license and that of the corporation once the remaining product has been removed from the premises. In addition, he has agreed not to manufacture any additional fireworks.

Investigation   --  Report
A CASE STUDY

SUMMARY

-- On 99 06 30 somewhere between 13:30 and 15:30 a worker, engaged in destroying firework explosive waste materials, by a method called waste burning, was fatally injured when the material ignited and exploded. The worker was employed by and performing a work activity routine for a firework factory located in West Central Alberta. The worker was working alone and in the process of burning an abnormal (excessive) amount of explosive waste material, outside of the fireworks factory compound. The explosive waste materials, accumulated over several weeks, were contained in a number of 5 gallon (19L) pails and transported to the incident location by pick-up truck. The worker had already burned off two pails of the explosive waste when he proceeded to pour out the contents of the third pail, into a pile, on the ground. An ignition source was introduced (most likely from a previous burn) and ignited the explosive waste material on the ground and in the pail. The material proceeded to burn very rapidly. The explosive waste material had enough energy and pressure to instantaneously cause the pail and contents to explode. The explosion inflicted fatal injuries on the worker. The incident was investigated on 99 06 30 by an Alberta Human Resources & Employment, Occupational Health and Safety Officer.  Natural Resources Canada - Explosive Regulatory Division and Alberta Infrastructure - Dangerous Goods Control Branch were also called and conducted concurrent investigations into the incident.  After analyzing the findings of the investigation, the Occupational Health and Safety Officer concluded that the cause of the incident was an uncontrolled explosion of explosive waste material brought on by an ignition source. This uncontrolled explosion was a direct result of a system failure that includes: Inadequate training, No supervision, Inadequate site specific work procedures. The employer’s activities following the incident included: Had a competent worker acquire a valid permit to handle, prepare or fire any explosive material in the Province of Alberta, Developed Safe Work Procedures for burning explosive waste material, Plans set in motion to relocate the fireworks factory compound to South Central Alberta, Plans for an external health & safety audit on the "new" factory compound. Human Resources & Employment will conduct consultations with federal, municipal and industry stakeholders on permitting, education and inspections. The employer will be submitting a copy of  the external health and safety audit to Human Resources & Employment for review.

Kalibakung -- Indonesia
Eight killed in fireworks blast

2002 -- Eight people were killed when an explosion ripped through a fireworks factory in central Indonesia late Saturday.    The blast and the fire that followed it levelled several buildings near the factory. Six people were killed instantly and two more died in hospital. Nineteen others were injured.    All the victims were believed to be workers at the factory located in a house in Kalibakung, a village about 350 kilometres from Jakarta.    Police were investigating the cause of the blast, which they initially said could have been sparked by a short circuit, or poorly stored materials. They are treating it as an accident.     Fireworks are illegal in Indonesia, but it's a law that is rarely enforced. People across Indonesia use fireworks to celebrate weddings and festivals.     Often they are made in small home-based factories without proper safety equipment.

Veroli -- Italy
Fireworks explosion kills 3

-- Police said three people died in an explosion at a small fireworks factory in southern Italy on Thursday, the third such explosion inside a week in Europe. Witnesses at the scene said they heard two explosions in the village of Veroli, south of Rome. Factory owner and his son died in the explosion and a third person, a 49-year-old man who was working, died in a hospital.       The family had built fireworks for generations and another family member was killed in a similar explosion decades ago.    "This is the oldest fireworks factory in the area. The father and the grandfather had done this job for decades.   "They were preparing fireworks for the (religious fair) of Santa Rita," he said.

The explosion came after a fireworks accident in Enschede,   Netherlands, on Saturday that killed 20 people and left nearly 950 injured. A total of 110 people remained unaccounted for on Wednesday.   And on Tuesday, six people were killed when a fireworks factory exploded in the southeastern province of Valencia in Spain.

San Cristoforo -- Italy
Fireworks spark tragedy

-- Fireworks again sparked tragedy Thursday, when three people were killed by an explosion at a fireworks factory in the town of San Cristoforo, in central Italy.

Five days ago, a similar accident left at least 20 people dead and injured more than 500 in The Netherlands.  On Tuesday, six people were killed by an explosion at a fireworks factory in Spain.

The explosion caused the factory building to collapse. Rescuers announced they have recovered the bodies of three people, the 66-year-old owner of the factory, his 32-year-old son, and a 49-year-old employee.  The cause of the explosion at the family-owned company has not been determined.

Slawi -- Java

-- An explosion at a fireworks factory in Central Java killed at least 12 people, nearly all of them women, and injured many others.

The blast occurred at the firework factory in the city of Slawi, killing at least six workers instantly.

Another six workers were later pronounced dead at the emergency unit of the Dr Soeselo Hospital in Slawi.

The victims were identified as ten women and one man, while the 11th victim was yet to be identified.  A hospital worker said another 14 women had been hospitalized for burns.

Lahore -- Pakistan

-- At least nine people are killed and four others are injured in an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in Lahore.

Portugal
Blast at fireworks factory. Four people killed.

-- At least four people have been killed in an explosion at a fireworkers factory in Portugal, officials say.

The blast has reportedly started a fire in a pine forest near the factory, in the town of Caldelas, about 50km (30 miles) from the city of Oporto.  "We can confirm four dead but there may be more bodies inside," said a spokesman for the emergency services in the capital, Lisbon.  Media reports said the factory had only four workers.  The state television channel, said five  people had died.

Webster Parish

2004 -- No one was injured this morning when an explosion rocked a building at the Goex black powder plant in Webster Parish.

A spokesman at the Doyline plant said the blast happened in a remote area of the plant. The building was damaged and there was a small fire, Louisiana State Police said.

Trooper Doug Pierrelee said the explosion happened when a worker started a granulating machine. The machine was activated by a remote control as a safety precaution and the worker was not injured, Pierrelee said.

The machine is believed to have malfunctioned but the investigation is still underway, Pierrelee said this afternoon.

Powder made at the plant can be used for ammunition, fireworks and stone blasting.

In 2001, two workers at Goex were slightly injured in an accident. In 1998 a worker was killed when the black powder he was mixing exploded.

 

Sao Pedro do Sul -- Portugul
Three killed in fireworks blast

2005 -- Three people were killed and one person was seriously injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory near the northern Portuguese village of Sao Pedro do Sul, Lusa news agency reported

Two rooms were destroyed and firefighters rushed to the scene to try to put out the fire, Lusa said.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known.