Fireworks Store Destroyed; Adjacent Property Unaffected

October 14, 2008

Murfreesboro, TN ‐ A fire that erupted at approximately 5:20 p.m. last night destroyed the building and contents of the Fireworks Supermarket in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but all safety systems and protocols functioned as designed, there were no injuries and the fire was contained to the fireworks building, according to Michael Ingram, company president.

“The showroom manager reported the fire started in the storage area of the facility. He was giving instructions to the two (2) person night crew, when they reported hearing “pops” in the warehouse area of the building,” said Ingram. “When they entered the warehouse area, they discovered a case of fireworks on fire and while extinguishing the fire, more fireworks began going off,” reported Ingram.

“The fire department has not determined a cause for the fire yet,” said Sally Wilson, retail showroom director. “The products do not self‐combust,” explained Wilson, “so there had to be an external source of ignition. We expect the fire department will ultimately be able to determine the cause.”

ADS Security contacted the store to confirm the fire as a result of the building fire alarm being activated, and the security company also notified the Murfreesboro Fire Department.
Ingram indicated, “The fire developed exactly as expected of a consumer fireworks fire, and the Murfreesboro Fire Department contained the fire professionally and in accordance with standard procedures. We appreciate their efforts.” Reports indicated that although the building and contents were virtually destroyed; the fire was confined to the interior area of the building with no damage to adjacent buildings or property.

Ingram further stated, “Contrary to reports in the media, there were no ‘dangerous commercial‐type explosives’ stored in the building. Fireworks Supermarket stores and sells only consumer fireworks that have been tested and approved for sale by the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory in accordance with standards enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.”