Fireworks Explosion on Pontoon Injures Six During Lake Martin Celebration

State police are investigating after a malfunction on a pontoon boat modified to serve as a fireworks platform caused an explosion Friday night, injuring six men.

Jeremy Burkett, a spokesperson for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said investigators were called at around 9:15 p.m. on Independence Day to respond to an explosion on Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County.

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ALEA believes a pontoon boat had been modified into a floating fireworks launcher, and something malfunctioned, causing a major onboard explosion.

Six men were hurt by the blast, including a 39-year-old and a 49-year-old, who were transported to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital. One man needed to be taken to the Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville, and three others got medical treatment.

ALEA said their Marine Patrol Division, State Bureau of Investigation, and the Alabama Fire Marshal's Office responded to render the unexploded fireworks safe.

Now, they'll investigate what happened and who may be responsible for it in a joint investigation between ALEA and the Fire Marshal.

As the Fourth of July Weekend continues, the state police agency issued an advisory urging people to be more careful.

• Never launch fireworks from boats unless specifically permitted and equipped with proper safety measures.
• Avoid firing overcrowded areas, marinas, or boats – embers can land and start fires.
• Secure your fireworks setup to prevent tipping or misfires due to wind or movement.
• Do not swim near areas where fireworks are being launched.
• Remember to always celebrate responsibility.

For more coverage of news from in and around West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.