Explosion Reported at Hickman County Explosives Manufacturer

An explosion was reported Friday morning at Accurate Energetic Systems, an explosives manufacturer near Bucksnort in Hickman County, according to WSMV4.

The Hickman County Sheriff’s Office confirmed multiple fatalities and said emergency crews are on the scene. Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area to allow first responders to work safely and efficiently.

A source reported that multiple people are missing and at least one person may have been killed. Multiple others have been hospitalized following the explosion, according to an official with Humphreys County Emergency Management.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has closed State Route 230, also known as Tanyard Branch Road, north of Interstate 40 in the Bucksnort area due to the ongoing response.

Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC, established in 1980, specializes in the development, manufacturing, handling, and storage of energetic products for defense and commercial use. In 2020, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced an expansion of the company’s operations in McEwen, near Bucksnort, expected to create 80 jobs at the 1,300-acre site spanning Humphreys and Hickman counties, where AES operates a full laboratory and test range.

This is a developing story.