Moment all hell broke loose

by Katee Shanks news@dailypost.co.nz | 10th November 2009

No blame is being laid on the person responsible for setting up a public fireworks display in Whakatane that turned to disaster on Saturday night.

Thousands of dollars of exploding fireworks sent firelighters and firefighters diving for cover when Whakatane's annual Kiwanis Club display went terribly wrong.

Two people were taken to hospital with minor burns and a scrub fire burned for hours after an errant spark from a lighting stick hit the first box of fireworks and caused a domino effect through $11,000 worth of pyrotechnics.

Whakatane's licensed firelighter, Gordon Smith, has set up the public displays in the town for 30 years without previous incident and, despite Saturday's incident, none of the fireworks went anywhere near the public gathered on the other side of the river from where the display went off.

Whakatane District Council emergency services manager Bill Wycherley, who was at the centre of the explosions, said it was like being in a war zone.

"Everything was in place and ready to go ... when everything turned to bedlam and things started exploding around us. It was harrowing," he said.

A teenager, who asked not to be named, said there were numerous explosions and "all of a sudden" the council-owned embankment was on fire.

Mr Smith had, as always, meticulously set up his area, including installing sandbags around the fireworks, before lighting a stick used to ignite the fuses - when all hell broke loose.

"The stick sent a spark into a box of fireworks and the next thing we knew, everything was exploding around us," Mr Wycherley said.

"Mr Smith and his helpers, including his grandson, managed to escape the explosions by diving on to a 4ft [1.2m] section of sand and mud left by the outgoing tide and directly under the ledge [where] they had set up their display."

Mr Smith's grandson needed medical treatment for a minor cut above his eye.

What is usually a 40-minute display was over within seconds.

The fire was contained on "Scout Island", an island close to the Whakatane River bank, and firefighters put out spot fires on the mainland.

"It was too dangerous to put any crews on the island as the vegetation is very dense and the land filled with channels of water," Mr Wycherley said.

Rural and volunteer firefighters went home at 12.30am yesterday but returned at first light. The island was still smoking yesterday morning.

Mr Wycherley said he remained supportive of the display despite what had happened. "I hope it will continue."

Kiwanis president Leigh Baker, praised Mr Smith for his meticulous work in setting up the display.

"No fireworks went shooting across the river toward the public, which means everything was set up how it was supposed to be. The fact no one was hurt and no property damaged shows us it was done right."

He said Kiwanis would seek permission from council to hold another display next year and did not think Saturday's incident would make a difference.

"An Occupational Safety and Health [OSH] investigation is under way and I believe that is the only official investigation that will be carried out. I would expect there will be several meetings to discuss what took place."

Mr Smith wouldn't talk about what happened, saying he had yet to speak to OSH which he expected to do today.