Six people have been hospitalized after “unpermitted fireworks” exploded on a pontoon boat in Alabama
Authorities said the boat was “modified into a fireworks platform” and “malfunctioned” during a fireworks celebration
Witnesses at Lake Martin said the boat had been launching fireworks for several minutes before the explosion
A Fourth of July fireworks explosion in Alabama has resulted in the hospitalization of six people.
The incident involved “unpermitted fireworks” and occurred at about 9:14 p.m. local time on a part of Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County, according to a press release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
Authorities stated that the incident involved the malfunction of a pontoon boat “that had been modified into a fireworks platform” for a planned fireworks celebration.
Those injured included William C. Davis, 39, and Aaron L. Kovak, 49 — both of whom were transported to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital — as well as Johnathan R. Wilmarth, 43, Joshua A. Husted, 36, and Matthew Davila, 28, all of whom were transported to local hospitals for treatment, per the release.
The condition of those injured is not yet known. There will be an investigation into the incident led by the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office, per ALEA.
ALEA informed PEOPLE that they have no additional information to share at this time. PEOPLE additionally reached out to the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office for comment on Saturday, July 5, but did not receive an immediate response.
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The fireworks display was an annual event, according to local news outlet The Outlook. The outlet reported that witnesses at the event said that the boat had been launching fireworks for several minutes when one exploded low and near the vessel, at which point the boat appeared to catch fire.
At least three medical helicopters were utilized to transport victims to local hospitals, per The Outlook and ABC 33-40.
In addition to details regarding the incident, ALEA shared multiple fireworks safety tips in their statement to the public, including “never launch fireworks from boats unless specifically permitted and equipped with proper safety measures,” and “secure your fireworks setup to prevent tipping or misfires due to wind or movement.”
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