An absolutely horrific explosion occurred at the Accurate Energetic Systems near McEwen and the charmingly named Bucksnort, Tennessee, a shade before 8 a.m. this morning. The site's about 50 miles west of Nashville if you want to try to fix it in your head, geographically.
The plant there makes both commercial and defense 'energetic' products. What that translates to in plain English, among other things, is bombs for the US military.
...Established in 1980, Accurate Energetic Systems, LLC (AES), proudly holds certification as a SBA Women-Owned small business and stands at the forefront of the energetics industry. We are dedicated to the development, manufacture, handling, and storage of high-quality energetic products utilized in both defense and commercial markets.
...As a leader in the energetics and explosives industry, AES strives to provide solutions that are not only effective but also customized to meet the unique requirements of our clients. Whether for military acquisition offices, defense and aerospace primes, or commercial demolition sectors, AES is your partner in achieving superior energetic solutions.
Something went horribly wrong this morning. The first clue was a massive boom heard and captured on Ring cameras as far as over twenty miles away.
This is video by Cody Warren who lives in Lobelville. That is about 21 miles from the explosion in Bucksnort, TN.
— Alma Gentil (@Chinoy200096633) October 10, 2025
THAT LOUD from 21 miles away (Accurate Energetic Systems in the Bucksnort area in Hickman County, Tennessee.)
The video is from the moment of the explosion and… pic.twitter.com/V6EJOopBLu
And the concussive shake was felt in homes even further afield.
Please keep these folks in your thoughts and prayers this morning, as people are still unaccounted for from this explosion —
— Dustin Kittle (@dustinkittle) October 10, 2025
And as improbable as it sounds, there were reports of houses being shook this morning in Santa Fe, before that report came in, and we are almost 40 miles… pic.twitter.com/cT11aARDzS
The first images coming out of the scene were utterly devastating as local response teams and rescue crews rushed to a facility that didn't seem to exist anymore.
🚨#BREAKING: Dozens of people are currently unaccounted for following an catastrophic and extremely large explosion at a manufacturing plant
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) October 10, 2025
📌#Bucksnort | #Tennessee
At this time, numerous emergency personnel are on the scene in Bucksnort, Tennessee, after a significant and… pic.twitter.com/1XmZZRqY24
First reports of one dead, with twelve missing, but that number is now up to nineteen.
And golly, Nell - everything is devastation.
The facility was indeed a multifaceted explosive operation for various industrial uses, not just military purposes.
🚨 BREAKING
— American Press 🗽 (@americanspress) October 10, 2025
A massive explosion obliterated the Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) facility in Bucksnort, Tennessee, which produced and stored explosives, including bulk explosives, shaped charges, demolition kits, and specialized items for military, defense, aerospace,… pic.twitter.com/ngaopvtaI6
...produced and stored explosives, including bulk explosives, shaped charges, demolition kits, and specialized items for military, defense, aerospace, demolition, mining, and oil industries.
BREAKING: I’m on the scene of an explosion at the Accurate Energetic plant in Middle Tennessee. Large scale emergency response underway. Here’s some of the first video from the scene: pic.twitter.com/Skli3Vg601
— Will Nunley (@willnunley) October 10, 2025
The explosion took out the entire building.
...The explosion encompassed one whole building on the facilities, and the scene is secure as possible at this time.
Various agencies responded to the scene including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the FBI Nashville Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security. This is a joint operation with Humphreys County Sheriff's Office and Hickman County Sheriff's Office, with Accurate Energetic Systems sitting on the state line.
Sheriff Davis says Accurate Energetic Systems is cooperating with the investigation.
The Hickman County Sheriff's Office urges everyone to avoid the area to allow responders to do their work.
"At this time, we ask everyone to please keep your community, first responders, and those affected in your thoughts and prayers," the Hickman County Emergency Management Agency wrote on their Facebook page.
Tennessee Emergency Management also has an official on the ground already, with more expected.
First responders were being hampered in doing their job by munitions that were still cooking off from the flames and intense heat from smoldering rubble, frustrating efforts to get the fire under control, and stalling the desperate search for any survivors.
Area officials are doing their best to keep frantic family members informed, and miraculously, there have been survivors with minor injuries found. Many others are hospitalized.
...Emergency officials are expected to give another update at about noon. An official with Humphrey County Emergency Management said at least 19 are missing and multiple others have been hospitalized.
Family members are asked by EMA officials to report to Gate 3.
...Three patients with “minor injuries” from the explosion have been treated at TriStar medical facilities in Dickson, according to the director of media relations. Two have been released after receiving walk-in treatment at TriStar Horizon Medical Center, and the third is currently being treated as a walk-in at TriStar Natchez Emergency Room.
The Google Earth shot of the building before and today's ghastly after tells you everything you need to know.
BREAKING: Several people have been killed in an explosion at an explosives manufacturing plant near Bucksnort, Tennessee, according to authorities.
— Crime With Bobby (@CrimeWithBobby) October 10, 2025
Before and after photos of the damage from Google Earth & Sky 5. pic.twitter.com/ZQcNfgcKOk
The company had another incident back in 2014, which was determined to have been accidental. While it was nowhere near this catastrophic, one person was killed and three were badly injured.
A deadly explosion in 2014 at the Rio Ammunition facility in McEwen, Tennessee, was determined to be accidental, according to a preliminary investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Response Team, per The Tennessean. The blast occurred during cartridge loading operations at the plant, which was operated by explosives manufacturer Maxam and located on property owned by Accurate Energetic Systems.
Those thoughts and prayers? Oh, my goodness, yes.
Flowing to those folks.
It's such dangerous work, God bless them.
