ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A powerful explosion that rocked a Northeast Albuquerque neighborhood Wednesday afternoon has claimed the life of 60-year-old Greg Clark, a longtime pyrotechnician known for producing fireworks shows across the Southwest.
The blast, which occurred in the 9400 block of Woodland NE near Moon and Menaul, was heard over a mile away and shattered windows in nearby homes. One neighbor described rushing her children into a back room as the walls shook and framed pictures fell. “Then came the pops,” she said, comparing the sound to fireworks.
Clark, who was badly burned, managed to walk out of his destroyed garage before firefighters stopped him from getting into his vehicle. He was airlifted to a burn center at Texas Tech University Medical Center in Lubbock, where he died Thursday. His brother, Jason Clark, said Greg never regained consciousness. “But I sat next to him as he passed away,” he said.
Another employee of Western Enterprises, the Oklahoma-based fireworks company Greg worked with, was also injured and taken to the same burn center.
A Life of Precision and Passion
Greg Clark was known for his meticulous approach to pyrotechnics. He worked with Western Enterprises for two decades, producing shows in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. He also handled lighting for concerts at the Rio Rancho Events Center.
“He never brought product into his home,” Jason Clark said, referring to the professional-grade fireworks Greg worked with. “He was careful. He made people give up their phones and smartwatches if they got too close.”
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which has dispatched special agents to the scene. No wrongdoing has been alleged, and the ATF has not released further details.
Western Enterprises confirmed that the fireworks involved were stored in a box truck parked on the street and were not part of the explosion. The company retrieved the materials at the request of federal authorities.
In a statement, Western Enterprises President Jim Burnett said, “Greg was a long-time seasonal team member who had become a friend to many at Western Enterprises. He will be deeply missed.”
Burnett also acknowledged the damage to surrounding homes and emphasized that storing fireworks in a residential area violates both federal regulations and company policy.
A Neighborhood Remembers
Despite the destruction, neighbors have rallied around Clark’s memory. Jason Clark said he expected anger when he arrived at the scene, but instead found compassion. “They all came to me and asked how he was doing,” he said. “Even the neighbor whose house was severely damaged told me how Greg had remodeled her kitchen for virtually no cost.”
Memorial signs and flowers now line the fence outside the home, a tribute to a man remembered not just for his work, but for his kindness.
“He was a good man,” one neighbor said. “Whatever happened, I know it wasn’t intentional.”
