At approximately 3:15pm this afternoon, La Grange Volunteer Fire Department, North Lenoir Fire & Rescue, and the North Carolina Forest Service were dispatched to 4871 Bulltown Road in La Grange, NC for a reported brush fire approaching a structure. Prior to arrival, the Lenoir County 911 Center advised responding personnel the structure contained commercial-grade fireworks. 

Shortly after arrival, fireworks detonated causing several injuries and damage to fire department apparatus. Three firefighters were transported to ECU Health Trauma Center in Greenville, NC to be treated for their injuries - one patient by Eastcare Helicopter and two patients by Lenoir County Emergency Services ambulance. One La Grange Volunteer Fire Department Firefighter is in critical condition. In addition, one civilian property representative was also critically injured during the explosion and transported from the scene. 

Multiple Lenoir County and Wayne County fire departments are on scene. The fire is under control and crews are working to fully extinguish hotspots. Please avoid the area of Bulltown Road and Heath Road until further notice. 

Lenoir County Emergency Services is coordinating the operation. Further information will be provided as it becomes available. A press conference will be conducted at 8:30pm at the scene (4871 Bulltown Road, La Grange, NC 28551). 

Interview with Lenoir County Emergency Services Director Murry Stroud:

Images of the fire in La Grange