Fireworks tent explosion Cadillac: Fire-damaged stand lit up parking lot at 4:13 a.m. as emergency crews rushed in to control the early morning parking lot fire.

CADILLAC, Mich. — For the second time in just five days, fireworks in Cadillac have ignited a firestorm—literally. An early morning explosion on July 5, 2025, destroyed a fireworks tent in a parking lot off Boon Road, prompting a full emergency response. The incident followed a separate fire involving a trailer of fireworks days earlier, raising public concern and triggering an investigation.

Tent Operator Recounts Narrow Escape: “I Was Sleeping in My Truck”

Cady N. Nehemiah Alvarado, who identified herself online as the operator of the destroyed tent, offered a harrowing firsthand account. According to Alvarado, she was asleep in his truck when fireworks began going off and hitting his vehicle.

“I was sleeping in my truck and fireworks started going off and hitting my truck. I immediately called 911 and went to find my keys to back out and get to safety,” Alvarado wrote in a public Facebook comment. “I know a lot of people are saying that it’s an insurance scam… but it’s not. I don’t benefit from this at all.”

Alvarado, who said she earns only a small commission on sales, stated that the company running the tent is based in Kansas. He added that the parent company’s insurance coverage does not protect her personally or cover her losses. “Officers told me that I was lucky to be alive,” she said.

Emergency Crews Respond After Fireworks Tent Ignites Before Dawn

Fireworks tent explosion aftermath off Boon Road in Cadillac. Did anyone see this happen?
byu/ErikReichenbach inMichigan

According to bystanders and local reports, the tent, which had been selling fireworks for Independence Day celebrations, caught fire around 4:13 a.m. Friday. Witnesses described a dramatic chain of detonations that lasted over an hour, lighting up the early morning sky and sending debris across the lot. Loud blasts reportedly continued until roughly 5:30 a.m.

Initial scanner reports and eyewitness commentary online suggest that the first 911 call came in at 4:13 a.m., with law enforcement arriving by 4:22 a.m. and requesting backup from additional departments. Emergency vehicles were on scene in full force by 4:45 a.m., establishing a perimeter and working to secure the area.

Cadillac Fire Department Leads Coordinated Containment Effort

Multiple fire units and law enforcement officers responded to the fire, which consumed the temporary sales structure and left behind scorched debris and mangled metal frames. The site was cordoned off with caution tape and traffic cones as investigators began assessing the scene later that morning.

As of publication, no injuries or casualties have been reported, and local authorities have not released an official cause. However, unverified statements from bystanders and drive-thru staff nearby suggest the fire may have been intentionally set. These claims remain under investigation.

Community Reactions and Gaps in Public Information Spur Concern

The lack of an official public statement from the Cadillac Police Department or Wexford County authorities as of Saturday has stirred concern among residents, many of whom first learned of the incident through social media. One witness posted, “My wife and I were heading home when we saw it. Explosions kept going off—no news coverage yet, it’s like no one’s talking about it.”

While makeshift fireworks stands are a familiar sight in retail parking lots across Michigan in the weeks leading up to July 4, Friday’s incident has reignited debate over the risks of selling pyrotechnics in temporary and unguarded structures.

Fireworks Regulations Under Scrutiny in Michigan

Michigan allows the sale and use of consumer-grade fireworks during a 10-day period around Independence Day. Retailers are required to obtain licenses and comply with safety regulations set by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

In 2018, Michigan passed a law tightening controls on fireworks use, following a rise in fires and injuries. Temporary vendors are also subject to local ordinances and fire safety inspections, but enforcement varies widely.

As of now, there is no official confirmation that the Cadillac fireworks stand violated any regulations, but the incident is expected to trigger new scrutiny of how such operations are monitored and protected—especially in high-traffic commercial areas.

Second Fireworks Incident this Year in Cadillac

a fireman looking at a truck that has burned out — Screenshot from Facebook

Only days before the early morning tent explosion, a separate fire involving an 18-foot trailer loaded with fireworks broke out around 3:30 p.m. on June 29, 2025, also in Cadillac. Witnesses shared video footage and commentary across Facebook, confirming that the trailer caught fire while parked on or near Boon Road, and fireworks detonated violently for several minutes.

Eyewitness Susan wrote, “18′ trailer full of fireworks caught fire. The workers directing traffic said they were worried the road might be compromised underneath from all that heat.” Others described the fire as being sparked by downed power lines or an overturned vehicle. No official cause has yet been confirmed by fire officials.

These two separate but similar events—occurring within a five-day span and in close proximity—have rattled residents and raised urgent questions about enforcement of Michigan’s fireworks safety laws.

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