Leak in fireworks bunker sends emergency services rushing to Brabant village

A leaking sprinkler system in a fireworks depot sent emergency services rushing to the Noord-Brabant village of Ulicoten on Monday night. As water in combination with fireworks can cause an explosion, a wide area around the bunker was closed down, Omroep Brabant reports.

Water ended up in two of the three bunkers. "Experts are investigating whether a dangerous situation has arisen and what the effect of a possible explosion in the bunker would be", a spokesperson for the local safety office said to Omroep Brabant.

Two of the three bunkers were declared safe at around 9:15 p.m., after a few hours of investigation. More water ended up in the third bunker and the fireworks were removed from it. After midnight the wet fireworks were spread over the three bunkers.

The bunkers belong to the municipality. Fireworks seized by the police are stored there. Many of these fireworks are illegal and contain so-called flash-powder, which can have a chemical reaction when exposed to water.

The fireworks depot is located on the outskirts of the village.

In Ulicoten is onderzoek naar explosiegevaar door een defecte sprinklerinstallatie bij een vuurwerkopslag. De weg er naar toe is afgesloten.. pic.twitter.com/gS8c1hyqH9
— René van Hoof (@renevanhoof) May 28, 2018

Overleg door crisisteam in Ulicoten. Explosieve opruimingsdienst onderzoekt of er explosiegevaar is in een vuurwerkbunker in het buitengebied pic.twitter.com/IIcBxptdef
— René van Hoof (@renevanhoof) May 28, 2018

Geen acuut explosiegevaar in Ulicoten bij de vuurwekopslag, maar het crisisteam is wel paraat. Het zekere voor het onzekere... pic.twitter.com/mYt1wnMKiD
— René van Hoof (@renevanhoof) May 28, 2018