Unexplained Fireball, Boom Rattle Residents

February 19, 2017

For an update, click here.

There’s no official word so far as to what caused a large boom and a bright light across a portion of the North Escambia area Saturday night.

About 9:15 p.m., the first of hundreds of reports began to arrive in the NorthEscambia.com newsroom describing the boom — shaking houses and rattling windows — in a swath from Baldwin County in Alabama, across northern Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida and Escambia County in Alabama.

Many that were outdoors at the time also reported a big light or fire streaking across the sky….leading many to  theorize the the boom was from a meteorite. (Well, technically a meteoroid that entered the atmosphere, a meteorite if any part managed to survive and hit the ground.)

Other media outlets also received numerous reports of the fireball and boom.

There were no reports of any explosions and anything unusual from emergency services or area airports.

Pictured: A sample image of a meteor and fireball. Courtesy NASA for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

25 Responses to “Unexplained Fireball, Boom Rattle Residents”

  1. Lena Brittain on February 27th, 2017 6:45 pm

    I saw a strange “burning” object on saturday (feb.25th) around 10pm Hudson FL. A huge orange light in the sky..first I thought it was a burning plane-it kinda flew in a circle,then disappered and about 20 min. Later it returned doing the same circle.

  2. Robert on February 21st, 2017 3:13 pm

    I saw one just like this back in January over Myrtle Grove in Pensacola. No noise but it was bright and split into about 4 pieces before disappearing.

  3. Justin on February 20th, 2017 6:44 pm

    I’ve seen this happen before, no sound but always figured it might be some type of air craft flare.

  4. Anthony on February 20th, 2017 11:50 am

    I seen it fall was on hwy 20 heading west. Was really bright and broke into 3 pieces

  5. Jon on February 20th, 2017 10:57 am

    Myself and some buddies saw this from New Hope, Fl. just south of Geneva. Didn’t hear or feel the boom, but watched it blow up in the sky.

  6. Josh on February 20th, 2017 8:37 am

    We were on yellow river about 5 miles up from blackwater bay. No boom but a great show.

  7. Brittaniw on February 20th, 2017 8:04 am

    I seen this night before last a little after 9 in Geneva Alabama!

  8. Danielle on February 19th, 2017 11:00 pm

    Saw this in Quincy FL. 2nd one I’ve seen!

  9. Taylor Copeland on February 19th, 2017 8:39 pm

    Me and my buddies saw this last night around the hogs foot area close to Andalusia Alabama

  10. Haley Thames on February 19th, 2017 8:20 pm

    Me and my husband seen it on our way to santa fe in enterprise al I thought it was crazy and knew what it was instantly and pointed it out it was HUGE bright and blue!! My husband thought it was a firework but it lasted to long to be one!! Scary but amazing at the same time. ❤

  11. Harley skinner on February 19th, 2017 8:09 pm

    I saw it in panama city! That was the coolest ive seen in a while.

  12. timtice on February 19th, 2017 7:30 pm

    I saw this! It was absolutely amazing. I just happen to be outside facing the western sky when it came through. When the fireball entered the atmosphere it lit up the entire sky!
    Coffee County, Alabama

  13. Flo on February 19th, 2017 6:00 pm

    My granddaughter and her friends saw it in the sky in Montgomery. We heard the boom in Osaka Community.

  14. Anna Powell on February 19th, 2017 4:47 pm

    Saw it in the sky last night 2/18 in Harold, FL.

  15. michelle on February 19th, 2017 4:44 pm

    I was fishing in gulf breeze last night when my step daughter seen this and thought is was a shooting star. It was very bright but there was no boom or noise with it.

  16. Tim Hall on February 19th, 2017 4:26 pm

    I was outside doing a bit of grilling turned up my brew to get the last swallow out looked up and saw it. It had brilliant colors. Then maybe 2 minutes later the “boom”.

  17. Ashley Geri on February 19th, 2017 3:23 pm

    I saw this last night. It was huge & blue, & it looked super close when I saw it because you could visibly see the flame attached to it. It happened so fast. When I saw it in Beulah, it looked like it was going to land soon it was so close looking. I’ve never seen one, I was so shocked I ran inside to tell everyone. It was around 9:15 pm last night when I saw it. It was super cool, yet kind of surreal & a little scary all at the same time. =)

  18. Jamie Erickson on February 19th, 2017 3:21 pm

    I saw one about a month ago while fishing the three mile bridge it was close about a football field away it landed in the water…it was amazing

  19. Hallie richburg on February 19th, 2017 2:45 pm

    I saw one around 9-15-930 in Andalusia AL along 84. Bypass .

  20. person on February 19th, 2017 1:03 pm

    That is WEIRD! But that kinda stuff has been happening constantly!!! Thursday evening around 10 i was outside and i saw a reddish orangish glowing light or it looked kinda like a ball close to the ground. then it went up a little bit and then disapeared

  21. Melissa on February 19th, 2017 12:33 pm

    Saw some sort of large object around the same time I believe. Looked like a large shooting star with a green tint to the flame behind it. This was in the Jackson Ms area

  22. marc vayson on February 19th, 2017 11:32 am

    Martian death ray ?

  23. Randy kittrell on February 19th, 2017 11:03 am

    I saw it what was that

  24. What on February 19th, 2017 10:39 am

    Yeah
    I’ve been seeing them for a while
    Pretty cool ride but a little rough on re-entry.

  25. Jeremy carroll on February 19th, 2017 9:49 am

    About a month ago me and my friends saw it in the sky at our hunting range in walnut hill almost in alabama.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive