The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has released a grim update on its investigation into the catastrophic explosions that ripped through the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) explosives facility on October 10, 2025, claiming 16 lives and injuring multiple others. 

CSB Chairperson Steve Owens described the disaster as “one of the deadliest industrial incidents in our country in years. The CSB’s focus is to determine how and why this horrific event occurred and identify ways to help prevent a terrible tragedy like this from happening again.” 

The blasts obliterated Building 602, sending debris more than 700 feet and generating a shockwave reportedly felt over 20 miles away. The U.S. Geological Survey registered the event as a 1.6-magnitude seismic occurrence. At the time, roughly 24,600 pounds of explosive material were on site, with the CSB estimating that 23,000 pounds detonated, deflagrated, or burned. Another 1,000 pounds of unexploded material were recovered and safely burned on site. 

AES produces explosives for military, aerospace, mining, avalanche control, and demolition applications. Building 602 contained both manufacturing and storage areas and lacked a sprinkler or deluge fire protection system. The cast boosters were created using a “melt-pour” process: molten explosive mixtures were poured by hand into tubes, cooled, and packaged manually for shipment. 

CSB Investigator-In-Charge Cruz Redman explained the deadly chain reaction: “The first detonation created a pressure wave that set off additional explosives throughout the building. The series of explosions resulted in fatal injuries to sixteen AES employees, injures to several others, the destruction of Building 602, and damage to multiple surrounding structures.” 

The CSB investigation is ongoing, focusing on AES’s production processes, safety management programs, kettle design and operation, handling of sensitive explosives, and adherence to industry safety guidance.