Deadly Explosion Investigation May Take Months

Shortly before 8 a.m. October 10 a massive explosion leveled much of the Accurate Energetic System’s site in Humphreys County, Tennessee. The blast killed at least 16, with others still missing days later.

Tennessee’s Emergency Management Agency has been posting regular updates on the response efforts. TEMA says the Humphreys County and Hickman County Sheriff’s Offices, in coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives National Response Team, remain the lead law enforcement authorities on the ground. Multiple local, state, and federal partners are assisting with the investigation and recovery process.

ATF is not updating its site due to the federal shutdown.

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TEMA says the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is using advanced forensic and identification technology to assist with victim identification. This process, it says, requires careful coordination between investigators, forensic specialists, and medical examiners. Due to the extensive damage and the presence of hazardous materials, this work is proceeding slowly and methodically to ensure the safety of responders and the integrity of the investigation. Teams must continue clearing the area of active explosives before comprehensive recovery operations can take place.

The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated at Level 4 – Elevated, supporting ongoing coordination among law enforcement, forensic teams, emergency management officials, and local agencies as recovery and identification efforts continue.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the response through Rapid DNA. Rapid DNA is a fully automated process that develops a DNA profile in less than two hours, depending on the sample type. It is a quick and portable system that allows for on-site DNA analysis to expedite family reunification in the event of a mass disaster, TEMA says.

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Rapid DNA uses similar technology to traditional DNA analysis; however, it is specifically designed for samples with large quantities of DNA from one individual. Its effectiveness depends on the condition of the remains. The process begins by developing DNA profiles from family members for comparison with unidentified human remains.

BBC reports that Hickman County Sheriff Jason Craft said that rapid DNA analysis was still ongoing (October 11), but that after a search by 300 first responders, authorities had enough confidence in their assessment of the scene to notify families that their loved ones were likely deceased.

It could take as long as a month for federal investigators to reach the main site of the explosion, ATF official Brice McCracken told the BBC. The volatile nature of the explosive materials has also hampered the emergency response, officials said, as controlled detonations to render the site safe are also expected in the coming days, as reported by BBC.

AES has had other safety incidents in the past decade.

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According to WKRN, the company received “serious” citations in 2019 related to residue of cyclonite, an explosive powder, in areas where employees ate and drank. Cyclonite “could result in central nervous system impairment.” That same year, two employees experienced seizures and had the potential to be exposed to cyclonite while working in what documents called a “Hot House.”

WKRN reports that, “The employer explained that employees were provided with the option to wear long sleeves in the work place but they do not want to go to the extreme with PPE because their cyclonite is coated with a wax and therefore it wouldn’t be easily absorbed through the skin,” the document reads, in part. “The TOSHA representative explained that cyclonite has a skin designation and it is the employer’s responsibility to eliminate/reduce employee’s skin exposure.”

The serious violation found that “the employer had not ensured that surfaces in the break room including the table and microwave were kept free from the hazardous chemical cyclonite.” In the end, the company settled with the state and paid $7,200 in fines, agreed to make several changes and reclassified the citations to other-than-serious, WKRN reports.

And in 2014, an explosion occurred at another ammunition facility in the same small community, killing one person and injuring at least three others.

AES was established in 1980, and according to its website, is recognized as a leading Women-Owned Small Business certified by the SBA. The company develops, manufactures, handles, and stores a diverse array of energetic products and explosives for military, aerospace, and commercial demolition markets. The site is equipped with eight specialized production buildings and a quality lab to evaluate and analyze its products. The operation is located on 1,300 acres in Bucksnort, Tennessee, approximately 50 miles west of Nashville.