Hampstead, NC – On Friday night, the Pender County 911 center received multiple calls about a large explosion in the area of Lighthouse Court, Hampstead, NC. Firefighters and EMS Station 14 along with the On-Call Emergency Management Staff member responded to the incident.

 Upon investigating the incident, it was discovered that the cause of the explosion was the failure of a 10,000-gallon ground drinking water storage tank (hydropneumatic pressurized vessel) that was attached to a large pump house. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities. However, one home in the vicinity sustained damage, with multiple windows being broken out.

Since the Topsail Greens neighborhood has a private water system, the incident left surrounding residents without drinking water. However, repairs were carried out swiftly, and a second water tank was filled with 10,000 gallons of water, ensuring that customers had access to drinking water.

Despite successful resolution of the incident, there are concerns regarding the cause of the tank failure. The Topsail Greens Homeowners Association’s president has formally requested a thorough investigation into the matter. This investigation will provide a chance to learn from the incident and create preventive measures to mitigate future risks.