ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico firefighter who was seriously injured earlier this month in a fireworks explosion has died.
Roswell Fire Chief Devin Graham announced that Roswell firefighter Jeff Stroble died Sunday in a Lubbock, Texas, hospital while recovering from injuries suffered during a June 5 explosion. He was 46.
Robert “Hoby” Bonham of the Roswell Fire Department also was injured in the blast but he was sent home from the hospital in late June.
The pair were critically injured while moving fireworks material at a New Mexico storage area for a planned show. Twelve firefighters in all were hurt, but most sustained minor injuries.
The city of Roswell was forced to destroy the remainder of the fireworks for safety reasons.