Senior Pastor Bill Wilson of The Lord's Table Church in Goldsboro, said the four workers killed Saturday morning on Ocracoke Island were all members of his church.

He said those killed were Terry Holland, 51; Lisa Simmons, 42; Charles Kirkland, Jr., 49; Mark Hill, 21.

Wilson said all were from Wayne County.

He said Holland also worked as the church's building maintenance supervisor, and Kirkland's father is an associate pastor at the church.

"He was just a precious guy," Wilson said. "He was one of the most squared-away individuals I've ever met."

ATF officials tell NBC 17 that they have ruled the explosion accidental.

According to ATF spokesman Earl Woodham, "we have determined that this was not a deliberate act and that no criminal intent exists." Woodham declined to provide further details about what caused the explosion.

Sunday afternoon a silent memorial parade was held on Ocracoke Island as a way of paying tribute to those who lost their lives after yesterday's fireworks explosion. And as of Monday, all ferry service has returned to normal to the island.

The deaths happened after a tractor trailer carrying fireworks exploded at about 9 a.m. July 4 on Ocracoke.

Officials say one victim was pronounded dead at the scene,another died shortly after arriving at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, a third victim died at the burn center in Chapel Hill late saturday; the fourth victim passed away Sunday afternoon at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

Officials at UNC Hospitals tell NBC 17 that the patient at UNC has burns to 18 percent of their body and is currently listed in fair condition.

Two volunteer firemen were treated and released for inhalation and exhaustion, officials said. Emergency crews had already been on the scene as a safety precaution for the fireworks preparations.

The explosion happened near the island's south dock in the parking lot of the NCCAT campus.

"The Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department and Hyde County EMS were here and promptly responded en masse immediately after the incident", said Jane Hodges, Hyde County interim Emergency Manager.

"There was an immediate response from Hyde County Sheriff's Department, the National Park Service, NC DOT Ferry Division, Marine Fisheries, and volunteers to handle the crowds and assess the situation. Fortunately, there were three doctors including a medical examiner and volunteer nurses who responded immediately along with the staff of the Ocracoke Health Center and Hyde County EMS."

The fireworks were from Melrose Pyrotechnics in South Carolina. Crews were setting up the island's fireworks when the explosion happened.

The Hatteras Island ferry was temporarily suspended but has resumed operation. Highway 12 had to be temporarily shutdown but has since reopened.

Nick Samuel was staying in a hotel on Ocracoke when he heard the explosion. "I was in bed at the time of the explosion. It was a loud boom almost like thunder that lasted about 5-10 seconds and at first didnt think anything of it. But when I left the room I noticed the cloud of smoke. The end of the island, harbor outlet was on fire and burning and the trucks were parked by the old coast guard station, Samuel said."

Gwen Myers of Washington, who used to work at WITN, was at Ocracoke over the holiday weekend.

"The explosion happened near the ferry docks," Myers said. "It was unreal. There was a huge boom. The explosion peeled the top off the 18-wheeler truck."

Myers said even hours after the explosion you could still smell fireworks in the air.

Representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Company were on site throughout the weekend evaluating the scene.

Related Links

1. WITN Coverage
2. WRAL Coverage
3. WTVD Coverage