12 firefighters hurt in New Mexico fireworks warehouse explosion

A dozen firefighters were injured in an explosion at a fireworks storage area in eastern New Mexico.

State police and officials with the city of Roswell say the blast happened around noon Wednesday at the Roswell International Air Center as firefighters were boxing fireworks for an upcoming Fourth of July show.

Police say two of the firefighters suffered critical injuries and were taken via air ambulance to a trauma center in Lubbock, Texas. The others were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Authorities do not know what caused the blast, but said it appears to be accidental. Federal and local authorities are assisting state police in the investigation.

Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh said there has been no discussion on the incident’s impact on the Fourth of July celebration as all focus is on the injured firefighters.

The below video posted to Facebook by Roswell Today shows smoke plumes rising from the site of the explosion. The fire was mostly extinguished by Wednesday afternoon, but the Roswell Fire Department remained on the scene, putting water on hot spots.