Brownwood News – Luckily there were no injuries in a fireworks explosion and fire at Lake Brownwood last night.

The annual fireworks show, sponsored by Wild Duck Marina, was being conducted by a professional fireworks producer on two barges, anchored at Little Crappie Island, near the dam.  The initial fireworks were spectacular and beautiful, then :52 seconds into the show there was a big explosion.  Fire soon engulfed the two barges and the island.

According to Senior Lake Patrolman Troy Henderson, there were 4 or 5 fireworks technicians on the barges and the island.  They were all safely evacuated immediately by the Lake Patrol.

The Lake Brownwood Dam Volunteer Fire Department was on duty, as they are every year for the fireworks show.  Henderson praised their quick response.  They arrived via boat with pumps, and fought the fire on the barges and Little Crappie Island by pumping water out of the lake through fire hoses.  Little Crappie is uninhabited, with no structures of any kind.  Virtually all of the vegetation on the island was burned.  Both barges were totally destroyed.  One barge is owned by the Brown County Water District, and the other is owned by Brad Tyson of Wild Duck Marina.

Some sparks from the explosion blew over to the adjacent McCartney Island and started a small fire.  The volunteer firemen fought it with shovels and axes, like a forest fire.  There were no injuries and no damage to any structures on McCartney Island.

About 600 fireworks shells remained after the accident, and they continued to explode until about 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

According to Henderson, the accident is still under investigation, and the Lake Patrol asks everyone to stay away from Little Crappie Island.