16 People Dead in Blast at Tennessee Explosives Factory, Sheriff Says

16 People Dead in Blast at Tennessee Explosives Factory, Sheriff Says

Authorities investigating cause of early morning explosion near Murfreesboro

October 4, 2025 Murfreesboro, Tenn. Sixteen people were killed and several others injured early Friday after a massive explosion tore through an explosives manufacturing facility in central Tennessee, authorities confirmed.

The blast occurred around 4:30 a.m. local time at Volunteer Energetics Corp., a company that produces commercial and industrial-grade explosives, in Rutherford County, roughly 30 miles southeast of Nashville.

Sheriff Mike Fitzpatrick said emergency crews responded within minutes of reports of an explosion that “shook homes for miles” and sent a large fireball into the night sky.

“It’s one of the worst industrial accidents we’ve ever seen in this area,” Fitzpatrick said at a press briefing Friday morning. “Sixteen workers have been confirmed dead, and several others are being treated for serious burn and blast injuries.”

Search and Rescue Efforts Underway

Firefighters worked for hours to contain the blaze, which consumed much of the facility’s main production building. Hazardous materials teams were deployed to monitor air quality and secure the area amid concerns about secondary explosions from volatile chemicals still stored on site.

Rutherford County Emergency Management officials said at least five nearby homes sustained damage from the blast, and residents within a two-mile radius were asked to evacuate temporarily due to toxic smoke.

A company spokesperson issued a brief statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and pledging full cooperation with investigators.

“This is an unspeakable tragedy for our employees and the entire community,” the statement read. “We are working closely with local authorities and federal safety agencies to determine what happened.”

Cause Under Investigation

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have both opened investigations into the incident. Officials have not yet identified a cause but said preliminary reports suggest the explosion may have originated in a mixing area where chemicals are combined to make detonating compounds.

Sheriff Fitzpatrick said it could take days or even weeks to complete the search of the site and confirm all casualties due to the scale of destruction.

“There’s just not much left of the main structure,” he said. “We’re proceeding carefully to make sure it’s safe for our teams to go in.”

Community in Shock

Residents in Murfreesboro and surrounding towns described being jolted awake by a thunderous blast that shattered windows and rattled walls.

“It felt like an earthquake,” said Tina Hollis, who lives about four miles from the plant. “The whole house shook, and then we saw the orange glow. We knew it was bad.”

Local churches and community centers have opened as emergency shelters for displaced families, and officials said grief counselors are being made available to company employees and relatives of the victims.

Governor Bill Lee said he has directed the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to assist with recovery efforts and called for a statewide moment of silence.

“This is a heartbreaking day for Tennessee,” Lee said in a statement. “Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and with the brave first responders working tirelessly at the scene.”

A History of Safety Violations

Records show that Volunteer Energetics Corp. has faced multiple OSHA citations in recent years, including fines for improper storage of explosive materials and inadequate employee training. The company, founded in 1992, supplies explosives for mining and demolition across the Southeast.

Federal investigators declined to comment on whether those past violations are related to Friday’s incident but said they will review the company’s compliance history as part of their probe.

A Community Reeling

As daylight broke over the smoldering site, plumes of gray smoke still rose from twisted metal and debris. Family members gathered near the plant’s perimeter, waiting for updates on missing loved ones.

“We just want to know who made it out,” said Mark Ellison, whose brother worked the overnight shift. “No one deserves to die like this, just doing their job.”

Officials said recovery operations would continue through the weekend, and identification of victims could take several days.

This story is developing. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.