Park Staff Assist At Fatal Fireworks Explosion

A fireworks explosion on Ocracoke Island resulted in four fatalities and one serious injury on the morning of the Fourth of July. While attempting to unload and test fireworks for the community’s holiday celebration, an explosion occurred in a large box truck parked behind a teacher’s campus building. One crew member died instantly, and four others were flown to surrounding area hospitals. The local volunteer fire department and EMS crew were already on site as a safety precaution. National Park Service protection rangers and maintenance staff joined them shortly after the explosion occurred to provide assistance. All five crew members were employed by Melrose Pyrotechnics, a fireworks company out of South Carolina. Celebrations were canceled for the entire day and evening, and southbound ferries to the island were suspended until the following day. If there was anything positive that came from this tragedy, it was the reaction of the community, neighbors, and emergency personnel joining together to provide victims with the best possible care. The incident occurred on state property adjacent to NPS lands. State and federal agencies are investigating the cause of the explosion.