 Debris scattered near the site and damage to nearby cars | |
| Date | May 27, 1983 |
|---|---|
| Time | c. 9:15 AM (EDT) |
| Location | 1278 Welcome Valley Road, Benton, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35°8′42″N 84°39′50″W / 35.14500°N 84.66389°W |
| Also known as | Polk County fireworks disaster |
| Cause | Undetermined |
| Deaths | 11 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 |
| Convicted | 21 |
The Benton fireworks disaster was an industrial disaster that occurred on May 27, 1983, on a farm near Benton, Tennessee. A powerful explosion at an unlicensed fireworks factory producing illegal fireworks killed eleven and injured one, revealing the existence of the factory for the first time to law enforcement and the public. The initial explosion was heard more than 20 mi (32 km) away.
The event gained national attention, covered by multiple media outlets, and triggered a two-year federal investigation that eventually led to the conviction of 21 people including the owner of the factory, a man who was considered to be the mastermind, and several others from multiple states who conspired to manufacture, transport, and/or allow the fireworks manufactured at the operation to be transported. Investigators determined the factory to have been the largest and most profitable known illegal fireworks operation in US history.[1][2] The disaster was the deadliest event in US history involving illegal fireworks.[3]
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basswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
upiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Neus, Elizabeth (May 22, 1985). "Police arrested four men Wednesday and charged them". United Press International. Retrieved June 23, 2020.