UPDATED 2.10.2012 by Julie Montanaro

The City of Tallahassee continues to investigate an explosion at its sewer plant that sent two employees to the hospital.

Just this week, it resumed setting off fireworks to scare the birds and the worker who was badly burned that morning is now back to work.

"It's wonderful. It feels like God's blessing."

Wade McKenzie returned to work at Tallahassee's Watewater Treatment plant Friday for the first time since an explosion badly burned his hand and both of his legs.

"First, second and third degree burns ... third on my left, first, second and third on my right," McKenzie said as he described his injuries.

McKenzie spent 13 days in the burn unit at Shands. He fought off infection and boredom and says the thought of his newborn baby girl helped him pull through the pain.

"Just a crazy accident. Just how it happened. Things happen and it happened," he said.

"You were injured setting off fireworks to scare birds. Is this something you would ever do again?"

"Oh absolutely. I'd do it again in a heart beat."

McKenzie and fellow employee Pat Brown were hurt while setting off fireworks to scare birds at the plant. The plant is right in the path of low flying planes coming in for a landing at Tallahassee Regional Airport.

The explosion happened January 11th. The city just resumed using pyrotechnics this week after fine tuning some of its protocols.

"When the accident happened, it was in a golf cart and an errant spark got into the supply," said wildlife officer Charges Ziegmont. "So using a closed vehicle where the supply is kept, keeps that possibility of spark at a minimum."

The city is halting its use of fireworks on windy days. It will be installing wind socks throughout the plant to better monitor the wind speed and direction.

Right now, only one employee with special training is authorized to fire them off.

"Every protocol could be, you know, a little bit safer. No matter how safe you are, you can't be too safe, I reckon," McKenzie said.

The other employee hurt in the explosion, Pat Brown, was able to return to work a few days later.

The city says it is still investigating and asked McKenzie not to speak about the incident itself. We'll let you know when that investigation is complete.
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UPDATED 1.17.2012 by Julie Montanaro

A spokeswoman at Shands Hospital says Ronald "Wade" McKenzie is still hosiptalized in good condition.

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UPDATE 1-12-2012

Tallahassee, FL - As peaceful as these birds look...they can cause trouble... and trouble arose Wednesday morning at Tallahassee' sewage treatment plant.

Two plant workers were burned in a small explosion while trying to scare birds off.

"Wildlife and jet airplanes don't mix."

Managers say birds are attracted to the plant because of the holding ponds, but because the sewage plant is right next to the Tallahassee Regional Airport, they have to keep too many birds from flocking to the area...

They do that by shooting pyrotechnics--or fireworks, into the air.

Jospeh Cheatham, Wastewater Operations Manager, says, "The plane that went down the Hudson River in New York was by birds that get into the jet engine. o, there's been a large emphasis on bird management around airports in the last several years."

I'm told the two men were standing about right here when the accident happened. They usually hold equipment that looks like a gun, fire the pyrotechnics into the sky. It explodes in the sky causing a loud pop sound, which scares off the birds.

Managers say when Wade McKenzie and Dorise "Pat" Brown were shooting off the fireworks around 8:30 Wednesday morning, the wind blew a spark into the container of other fireworks.

Charles Ziegmont,Sewage Plant Wildlife Officer, says "Your heart sinks. Your initial concern is really for them and for their safety. You just want to get our there as quickly as possible and see if you can help."

Managers say they have a contract with the Federal Aviation Association to use the fireworks for bird management. Brown was released from the hospital yesterday, We're told McKenzie is at Shands Hospital with non-life threatening burn injuries.

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UPDATE 1-12-2012

WCTV has learned Ronald McKenzie has been upgraded to good condition at Shands Hospital.

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Tallahassee, FL -- January 11, 2012 --

An explosion sends two city of Tallahassee employees to the hospital.

A city spokesperson says around 8:30 this morning, Ronald McKenzie and Doris Brown were setting off pyrotechnics near the T.P. Smith Sewage Treatment Plant near the Tallahassee Regional Airport. Spokesperson, Michelle Bono, says the two work for the sewage treatment plant and that the procedure, called "bird harassment" is part of their job duties. When the wind picked up, sparks were blown back into the tool box with the other explosives, setting all of them off.

The two were taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Brown was released a short time after, but McKenzie was transported to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where he is listed in fair condition.