An explosion kills two people and injures three others at a commercial fireworks storage site near Crestline in southeast Kansas.

The explosion at about 10 a.m. today rocked the area around a large facility owned by Jakes Fireworks of Pittsburg. Two emergency helicopters were brought in.

Authorities say the blast took place while workers were handling fireworks that are stored in large containers and semi trailers.

The site is near the junction of US 400 and US 69, about 20 miles southeast of Pittsburg near the Missouri border. Neighbors said a single loud explosion was followed by a series of smaller explosions that shook homes.

A spokesman for Jakes Fireworks said it was the first accident of this type in the company's history. He confirmed that two people were killed and three injured in the blast.