UPDATE: How did a 55-gallon drum containing a flammable liquid find its way into a bonfire? Well, it certainly didn't walk there on its own.

 

Headline:  Green Bay Press Gazette, 10/20/2022

How did a drum containing flammable liquid get onto the fire? 

Sheriff's officials have not said. They might still be pursuing the answer as they interview people who were present at the bonfire. Through interviews so far, sheriff's officials determined the explosion happened between 10:50 and 10:55 p.m. 

How big a crowd attended the party? Authorities have said roughly 60 people attended. Officials so far have been able to interview and get "verbal or written" statements from approximately 20 of them. Those in attendance included dozens of past and current students of the Pulaski Community School District. 

Nobody called emergency services about the explosion. Why not? 

Sheriff's officials don't know for certain but speculate that panic, fear of punishment and a possible belief they could reach hospitals faster in a car than by waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

10/19/2022 update, "As for that Shawano County bonfire explosion, yes, underage drinking and gross stupidity were factors", starts here.

Headline:  Wisconsin State Journal, 10/19/2022

The Shawano County Sheriff's Office says as many as 40 current and former Pulaski High School students were at the bonfire Friday night in the Town of Maple Grove, which is about 25 miles south of Green Bay 20 miles northwest of Green Bay.  (They still can't get it right.) 

The sheriff's office believes the explosion was triggered when someone pushed a 55-gallon drum containing diesel fuel into the fire.

Original 10/17/2022 post, "CORRECTION:  Town of Maple Grove in Shawano County is located 20 miles northwest of Green Bay", starts here.

madison.com, 10/17/2022

The incident happened early Saturday in the town of Maple Grove, located about 30 miles south of Green Bay. The Shawano County Sheriff's Office said an accelerant was poured on the fire, causing it to burn out of control. 

The sheriff's office said that at least 17 people sought treatment on their own at local hospitals. Exact condition reports are not available, although some the injuries "range from critical, to others who have already been released from the hospital." 

The Pulaski Community School District told families in a message that some of the people involved include current and former students.  [emphasis added]

Retiring Guy suspects that alcohol was a factor.

The Town of Maple Grove in Manitowoc County is located 27.4 miles southeast of Green Bay.