2006 deaths mute Fourth at Worley casino
As people prepare to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the holiday for some is a somber reminder of a tragic accident one year ago that claimed the lives of two men working at the Coeur d’Alene Casino in Worley.
The 911 call came on the morning of June 29, 2006. Casino maintenance workers Donald S. Hanson of Fairfield, Wash., and Richard E. Stokes of Rockford, Wash., had entered a shipping container used for storage 300 yards from the casino to gather fireworks for the weekend display.
Witnesses reported hearing the explosion and seeing a mushroom cloud of smoke.
Hanson and Stokes were in charge of setting up the annual fireworks display on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation. Firefighters discovered their bodies after extinguishing the intense blaze.
Sadness still lingers for co-workers.
“This time of year, we’re thinking about those guys and their families. They were really special,” casino spokesman Bob Bostwick said.
Although the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown, a report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives indicates propane gas may have been leaking and was ignited by a spark from the pickup the workers drove up to the container.
The fire also could have started by the static or keying of the radios the men wore, the ATF found.
The temperature that day was about 100 degrees, which also may have contributed to the accident.
Casino officials canceled last year’s fireworks display after the explosion and haven’t discussed plans for future shows. Bostwick said it doesn’t mean they’ll never have a fireworks display again, but they aren’t yet ready to decide.
“It is still very sensitive,” said Quanah Spencer, tribal spokesman.
Spencer said the tribe isn’t planning an event, but veterans and people with family members serving overseas hold their own celebrations.
“We encourage people to acknowledge the loss, but we’re respecting the privacy of the families,” Spencer said.
The Coeur d’Alene Casino also created a safety committee and instituted several policies concerning fireworks to keep employees and guests safe.