(Arnolds Park)– No injuries were reported when a barge loaded with fireworks caught fire and exploded Saturday night on West Lake Okoboji.
Authorities say the accident happened around 10 minutes into the special show. Witnesses reported seeing a large explosion on the barge which was anchored off the Arnolds Park amusement park. Okoboji Police Chief David Jacobson was on the shoreline and witnessed the incident. He told KUOO news the barge was quickly engulfed in fire and fireworks were shooting every direction. He says they managed to herd a crowd of thousands of people away from the shoreline in front of the amusement park out of fear some of the fireworks could land there. Fortunately, none did, and no injuries were reported. There were no reports of damage to other boats or docks on the lake, even though authorities say some of the fireworks were landing close to them.
Tom Kuhlman was firing off the display and was in a specially fortified partition on the barge when the accident took place. He tells KUOO news an errant shell came down on the equipment used to shoot off the display, starting it on fire. Kuhlman says he knew immediately what happened, grabbed a life jacket and jumped into the water. He was picked up by a back-up craft that always accompanies the barge in the event of such of an accident.
Kuhlman told KUOO news he’s now out of the fireworks business. Kuhlman says “somebody sent me a message, and I’m going to take it”.
The accident took place shortly after 10:00 p.m.
