Explosion at Kansas State Fair leaves two hospitalized

A small explosion at a concession trailer during the Kansas State Fair on Tuesday evening left two individuals hospitalized and others with minor injuries, according to local officials.

The blast resulted in a fire that prompted a quick response from emergency personnel. According to Kansas State Fair director Brian Schulz in a news release, crews from the Hutchinson Fire Department were called to the fairgrounds and arrived on the scene at 6:28 p.m. local time.

Two individuals were immediately transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment. While their condition has not been disclosed, officials at the fair confirmed that others sustained minor injuries but declined medical attention on-site.

The exact cause of the explosion is still unknown while authorities, including the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Hutchinson Fire Department, are currently investigating the incident.

Newsweek reached out to the Hutchinson police department and the Kansas State Fair via email on Wednesday for comment.

According to the Kansas State Fair website, Tuesday’s incident occurred during the fair’s Tasty Tuesday, in which participating vendors offered $2 concessions.

The fair is a major annual event in the area. It began on Friday and is scheduled to end this Sunday with an expected 350,000 visitors.

The family-friendly fair hosts several outdoor attractions, including carnival rides on the Midway, fried foods at the food court and musical performances that will include acts ranging from Wynonna Judd, the Goo Goo Dolls and the Oak Ridge Boys.

“Each year, visitors from around the world come to Hutchinson to celebrate the culture and history of our great state,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said on the State Fair visitor’s guide. “Whether that means taste-testing 50-year-old family recipes, attending a show at the Nex-Tech Grandstand, or experiencing Kansas’ rich agricultural history firsthand, the State Fair showcases why it’s so great to be a Kansan.”

Kelly statement added, “My administration will continue to support efforts to grow the Fair in the coming years as an important Kansas tourist attraction, and a symbol of our agricultural sector’s strength, and a driver of the local economy,”

The annual event dates back to January of 1873 when a group of businessmen met and organized the Reno County Agricultural Society. On September 23-24 that year, the society hosted a fair which was held in a small wooden livery stable behind the town’s only bank, according to the Kansas State Fair website.

Since then, every year the Kansas State Fair has provided visitors with more events and food.

“As always, you will find the many outstanding exhibits that our great Kansas people have spent many hours preparing to showcase at the Fair,” Bob Atkisson, president of the Board Kansas State Fair, said on the State Fair visitor’s guide.