As May 22nd is the anniversary of the devastating tornadoes in 1985, the memory of another disaster remains with members of the valley.

On May 20th, 1985, an explosion took place that killed nine people.

The victims were making illegal fireworks in a shed in Beaver Township.

The explosion was heard over 20 miles away from the site, leaving a crater that extended ten feet wide and five feet deep.

Debris from the explosion was found miles away in Boardman.

Ken Leskosky lived across the street of where the explosion took place and was outside at the time.

"That noise was unbelievable. The impact, the feds told me i shouldn't have lived.when it hit me, it threw me back about 10-12 feet just from the impact, from that blast." said Leskosky.

Leskosky says the blast has caused him to become partially deaf.