Investigators say huge fireworks explosion likely an accident
»Play Video
BELFAIR, Wash. -- Investigators say two people who caused a massive explosion at a fireworks container early Monday will likely not face charges.
Mason County Chief Deputy Dean Byrd said deputies believe the incident was an accident. One of the people involved told investigators that he and another person were shooting in the area when a ricochet hit a cargo container that was full of fireworks.
The bullet ignited the fireworks that were stored inside, causing an explosion that could be heard from nearly a mile away.
No one was injured in the blast behind Belfair Truck and Auto Wrecking, but the container flipped several times when it exploded, starting fires on the ground and in several nearby vehicles.
"As we were coming up the hill we see nothing but a big fireball here at the junkyard," said Mason County Fire District 2 Chief Chief Beau Bakken.
Firefighters quickly doused most of the fires at the business off Highway 3, but a pile of tires that caught fire smoldered for several hours.
The container was holding large, professional mortar-style fireworks and officials said the owner had a permit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to store the fireworks at that location.
Officials say the fireworks were to be used at three separate celebrations.
"The fireworks are going to be here in Poulsbo on the 3rd of July, on Bainbridge Island on the 4th of July, and Whaling Days in Silverdale toward the end of July," said Ron Krell, who is organizing Poulsbo's display.
Festival organizers worried their shows literally just went up in smoke.
"It was a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach because initially we had no idea if they'd be able to replace them," he said.
But the man who owned the fireworks says the shows must go on so he's paying about $16,000 out of his own pocket to pay the losses that his insurance refuses to cover.
"He now has to pay retail," Krell said, "instead of the wholesale rate importing them directly from China."
Meanwhile, the two people who were shooting were interviewed by sheriff's deputies and Byrd said his department was not treating the case as a criminal matter.
In a 911 call released by Mason County Emergency Communications, one of the shooters told a dispatcher that he and his daughter had been firing into the air before the explosion.
Mason County Chief Deputy Dean Byrd said deputies believe the incident was an accident. One of the people involved told investigators that he and another person were shooting in the area when a ricochet hit a cargo container that was full of fireworks.
The bullet ignited the fireworks that were stored inside, causing an explosion that could be heard from nearly a mile away.
No one was injured in the blast behind Belfair Truck and Auto Wrecking, but the container flipped several times when it exploded, starting fires on the ground and in several nearby vehicles.
"As we were coming up the hill we see nothing but a big fireball here at the junkyard," said Mason County Fire District 2 Chief Chief Beau Bakken.
Firefighters quickly doused most of the fires at the business off Highway 3, but a pile of tires that caught fire smoldered for several hours.
The container was holding large, professional mortar-style fireworks and officials said the owner had a permit from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to store the fireworks at that location.
Officials say the fireworks were to be used at three separate celebrations.
"The fireworks are going to be here in Poulsbo on the 3rd of July, on Bainbridge Island on the 4th of July, and Whaling Days in Silverdale toward the end of July," said Ron Krell, who is organizing Poulsbo's display.
Festival organizers worried their shows literally just went up in smoke.
"It was a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach because initially we had no idea if they'd be able to replace them," he said.
But the man who owned the fireworks says the shows must go on so he's paying about $16,000 out of his own pocket to pay the losses that his insurance refuses to cover.
"He now has to pay retail," Krell said, "instead of the wholesale rate importing them directly from China."
Meanwhile, the two people who were shooting were interviewed by sheriff's deputies and Byrd said his department was not treating the case as a criminal matter.
In a 911 call released by Mason County Emergency Communications, one of the shooters told a dispatcher that he and his daughter had been firing into the air before the explosion.
This comment has been deleted
@lavid http://t.co/g5WqTQxH