Vendor Tent Fire Causes Propane Explosion at Festival of the Lakes Before Opening
Hammond, IN — A sudden gust of wind before a severe warned storm rolled in caused a fiery scare at the Festival of the Lakes on Wednesday afternoon, when a vendor’s carnival tent was blown into a hot cooking surface, igniting a propane-fueled fire, officials said.
According to Hammond Fire Chief Bernie Grisolia, the incident occurred around 4 p.m., just a hour before the gates were opened to the public. The tent, belonging to a carnival food vendor, came loose in the wind and made contact with a hot grill, triggering a fire that quickly reached nearby propane tanks.
One of the tanks exploded, a moment captured on video by a passerby. Witnesses in the area reported feeling the powerful percussion from the blast, and some noted that shrapnel flew across parts of the carnival grounds.
Fire crews responded quickly and were able to isolate the remaining propane tanks and extinguish the flames. One person suffered a minor injury in the incident, Grisolia said.
Hammond Public Works was on scene to clear the charred remains of the vendor booth. As a result, the opening of the festival was delayed by about an hour.
Despite the tense situation, the Hammond Fire Department was credited with a rapid and effective response that prevented further injuries or damage.
“Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt,” Grisolia said. “Our crews did a fantastic job under pressure.”
