Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
News Release
Kansas City Field Division
At The Frontline Against Violent Crime
Contacts:
Acting ASAC John Underwood, ATF
(816) 559-0755
Captain Ralph Brown
Jefferson County Sheriffs Department
(636) 797-5000
Randy Cole, State Fire Marshal
Missouri Division of Fire Safety
(573) 751-2930
Missouri Fireworks Manufacturer Explosion Ruled Accidental
DITTMER, Mo. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division, the Missouri Division of Fire Safety’s Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department announced further details about the cause of an explosion involving a fireworks manufacturer.
On Tuesday at approximately 7:10 a.m., an explosion occurred at Global Pyrotechnic Solutions, 10476 Sunset Dr., Dittmer, Mo., causing injuries to three employees of the business. Based upon witness accounts the explosion occurred during a pyrotechnics manufacturing process.
After a thorough scene investigation and numerous interviews the cause of the incident is being classified as accidental. However, the exact action which initiated the incident remains undetermined due to the extreme volatility of pyrotechnics. The investigation was conducted by ATF, the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also responded to the scene.
Global Pyrotechnic Solutions is a federal explosives licensee. ATF is the federal agency primarily responsible for administering and enforcing the criminal and regulatory provisions of the federal laws pertaining to destructive devices (bombs), explosives, and arson. For more information about ATF, go to www.atf.gov. Follow @ATFHQ on Twitter.
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