Fireworks explosion kills 2, injures 3 on N.C. Outer Banks
Published: July 4, 2009
Updated: July 4, 2009
OCRACOKE, N.C. (AP) — Two workers preparing for an Independence Day celebration were killed and three colleagues critically injured after fireworks exploded Saturday morning on a remote North Carolina island dock, authorities said.
The explosion shook homes and businesses and was heard across Ocracoke Village on the southern end of Ocracoke Island, which is the only inhabited part of the 15-mile spit of land.Ocracoke is part of the North Carolina Outer Banks.
The island is only accessible by boat or plane, and three medical helicopters took the injured workers to hospitals, Hyde County spokeswoman Jamie Tunnell said. Two came from a hospital in Greenville, N.C. — about an 85-mile flight. The other came from a burn center in Chapel Hill, about 180 miles away.
Several doctors, including a medical examiner, and a nurse who were visiting the island helped paramedics and staff from the local health clinic treat the workers, Tunnell said.
She did not release the names of the workers, the company involved with the fireworks or any information on what might have caused the blast.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other federal officials are coming to the island to investigate.
Dock master Robert Raborn noticed the workers unloading the truck from the Anchorage Marina about 200 yards away. He heard the explosion, which he described as one of the loudest things he has ever heard, then turned to see what happened.
"It was like 40 minutes worth of fireworks going off in four seconds," Raborn said.
Hundreds of tourists and residents streamed down to the south end of the island to see what was going on, Raborn said.
The explosion stopped ferries to the island for a few hours, but service was restored around noon Saturday.
By the afternoon, things were returning back to normal. But Bob Chestnut, owner of the Ride the Wind surf shop, said the explosion reminded residents of how isolated they are — hours away from any major city. There is a small health center and volunteer fire department, but little else.
"How do you get help here? How do you get enough people out to fight something?" Chestnut said. "That's the thing we're thinking about."
-- The Associated Press
Reader Reactions
The remote nature of the island is the reason.
In a similar remote experience a few months ago in Quebec, actress Natalie Richardson bumped her head while skiing. The nearest hospital was far away. When they arrived, no neurosurgeon was on staff due to socialized, rationed, health care in Canada.
She was thrown in another meat wagon and sent on bumpy roads for an additional 3-4 hours, in search of a neurosurgeon.
The frustrated American family made a decision to get her back the United States and private health care for her best chance of survival.
But it was too late. The combination of the remote location of the ski resort and “free” health care killed her.
At least these injured folks only traveled 85 miles, via helicopter to be treated by a private provider with a profit motive. A profit motive ALWAYS inspires people to do their best.
I trust they are in good hands.
Why are these displays even necessary?
I’ve been going to Hatteras and Okracoke Islands for at least 45 years and emergency response time is something I’ve always thought about. I suppose the most common injury on the islands is taking fishooks out of extremities, but the life threatening injuries are what we take for granted. As a side note, visit the medical center at Hatteras village sometime and they will be glad to show you their large collection of fishooks removed from people.
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