Two employees suffered minor injuries Friday morning after a small explosion sparked a fire at Santore and Sons Fireworks' manufacturing building in western Flagler County, officials said.
The explosion happened around 8:45 a.m. in a small 150-square-foot building located at the manufacturing company, which is on County Road 305. The building is used to house the machine that presses gunpowder into pellets.
The explosion caused two workers to panic, county officials said.
"When something like that happens, your adrenaline pumps and your heart races," Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito said. "They are fine. We didn't have to transport them to the hospital. They are staying at work."
Four firefighter-paramedics arrived to the scene. A small fire was extinguished in the concrete and metal building.
"When they are pressing the powder, it starts cold but it heats up in the process, and there was an unusual reaction," Petito said.
Manufacturing operations at Santore and Sons continued as normal as they prepare for fireworks for Fourth of July and other events throughout the weekend, said Julie Murphy, a Flagler County spokeswoman.