Lenoir County Fireworks Explosion – June 10, 2022

See related postings about fireworks incidents and disasters in this series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Looking back at the outside fire that ignited fireworks stored on a farm in Lenoir County on June 10, 2022. The resulting explosion killed a farmer and injured three firefighters.

This incident occurred at 4871 Bulltown Road in La Grange, where a farmer had started a controlled burn at his hay farm, to burn off the fields. Also on the property was a shipping container with commercial-grade fireworks.

At ~3:15 p.m., La Grange Fire, North Lenoir Fire, and the North Carolina Forest Service were dispatched to a brush fire threatening a structure. As units were en route, dispatch told them that a field fire had caught hale bales on fire and next to a building with fireworks inside.

From radio traffic, La Grange Engine 3 arrived at ~3:24 p.m. Believe they were the first fire unit. They reported a large brush fire. From later reports, conditions on arrival were some 50 large bales of hay burning next to a 40-foot shipping container.

Arriving firefighters also found farmer Randy Herring, the property owner, working to contain the fire.

By the time of the explosion, units on scene included E3 (LFD) TA2 (LFD) Car 6 (LFD) (Command) E2 (NLFD) TA1 (?) SQ34 (?) SQ1 (?) and possibly a Lenoir County EMS unit.

Explosion Occurred 22 Minutes Later

The explosion occurred about 3:33 p.m. It injured three La Grange firefighters and threw the farmer about 35 feet onto the ground. The blast also damaged three La Grange fire trucks, with at least one set on fire, from radio traffic.

Four North Lenoir firefighters[1] immediately rushed into the blast area—and not knowing if a secondary explosion would occur—to rescue the injured firefighters and the farmer.

[1] Firefighter Ackery Harrelson, Chief Brian Wade, Assistant Chief Brandon Ward, and Captain Billy Youssef were later recognized for their actions, as were other members of North Lenoir Fire Rescue. More on that in a moment.

Additional EMS units were immediately requested, along with a request for an air ambulance to be notified. Command first reported victims with second-degree burns and possible shrapnel wounds. It subsequently reported at least five patients with one down unconscious, and multiple burns.

The three injured firefighters—who were not identified in news reports–were transported to ECU Health Trauma Center in Greenville. One was transported by air (East Care) and two by ground (Lenoir County EMS). Two of the three were released within 24 hours, but the third firefighter suffered critical injuries. He was transported that night to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill. That night, all three were reported in stable condition.[2]

[2] By July 14, about five weeks later, all three firefighters were reported to have recovered.

Property Owner Was Killed

Herring was critically injured and died at the scene. Age 56, he was a former firefighter, farmer, and local pastor. La Grange Fire Chief Ryan Riley described him as a close friend of the department and community.

Post-explosion conditions included burning hay bales, plus fires in the area of the explosion and the container contents. At least one unmanned ground monitors was used, with personnel wearing SCBA due to the smoke conditions. Earthmoving equipment was also used for fire control.

Tankers shuttled water to the scene. The water point was State Road 903/1002 and Kinsey Gin Road, about 1.8 miles from scene.

Extensive Mutual Aid

Additional departments that responded to the scene or provided coverage included Deep Run FD, Pink Hill FD, Sandy Bottom FD, Southwood FD, Seven Springs FD (Wayne), New Hope FD (Wayne), and El-Roy FD (Wayne).

Lenoir County Tanker Strike Team 2 was later requested. A Wayne County tanker task force was also requested later but cancelled.

What was the EMS response? To be determined. Two EastCare helicopters responded, with only one used for transport.

Lenoir County officials conducted a press conference at 8:30 p.m. at the scene.

Overnight, a tanker task force from Johnston County was requested: Antioch FD, Brogden FD, Cleveland FD, Corinth Holders FD, Princeton FD, Wilson’s Mills FD. They were requested just before 10:00 p.m. They were on scene and working around 11:40 p.m. They cleared when Duplin County arrived.

Johnston County was followed by a tanker task force from Duplin County that included Faison FD and Pleasant Grove FD. They arrived about 3:00 a.m. the next morning.

Crews stayed on scene for just under 24 hours. All units including emergency management cleared the scene at 3:50 p.m. the following day.

Investigation

The incident investigation was coordinated by the Lenoir County Fire Marshal Office, with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal, the NC Forest Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The cause was determined as accidental. Though Herring had a cut a fire break around the property to contain the fire that he started, the controlled burn still got away from him. It reached the metal storage container and the contents of the storage container became so hot that the fireworks detonated on their own.

Officials later noted that the site was permitted, inspected, and licensed to have fireworks. The fireworks belonged to a friend of Herring, who owned a fireworks company and was allowed to store the fireworks on Herring’s property.

Across eastern North Carolina, some communities cancelled their July 3 and July 4 fireworks shows, including Franklin County, Wilson County, and the town of Swansboro.

Awards of Valor and Other Recognition

One year later, North Lenoir Firefighter Ackery Harrelson, Chief Brian Wade, Assistant Chief Brandon Ward, and Captain Billy Youssef they received the department’s Medal of Valor for “performing an act of heroism at extreme imminent personal risk under adverse conditions in the course of duty.” They were again recognized on August 12, 2023, when they received the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association Valor Award for their actions.

North Lenoir Fire Rescue also recognized other members for their actions at the incident, one year later.

For performing a highly unusual act of distinction above and beyond the call of duty under adverse conditions, Captain Clay Dunn and Firefighter Brittany Heath were presented with the Distinguished Service Award.

For performing a notable act of distinction in the course of duty, Firefighter Nathan Howell and Firefighter Landon Moore were presented with the Meritorious Conduct Award.

For responding and rendering aid during the incident, the following members were recognized by Unit Citation: Nick Bishop, Ryan Dawson, Ashton Dawson, Chris Decker, Clay Dunn, Andrew Fair, Franklin Floyd, Ackery Harrelson, Brittany Heath, Trey Herring, Nathan Howell, Zack Jenkins, Garrett Jones, Michael Langley, Landon Moore, Tyler Moore, Brian Wade, Brandon Ward, Lynn Wiley, and Billy Youssef.

Radio Traffic

Compiled by Legeros, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djp8bHi1ul4

Sources