A 40-year-old man is dead after a fireworks accident in Eagle County.

Sheriff's officials say the victim was at his home in the Brett Ranch area with some friends Thursday afternoon, when they tried to shoot fireworks into the air through a tube.

The man held the tube while someone else lit the fuse and tried to place it on the ground. But as he placed it in front of him, the device exploded and hit the victim in the chest.

Emergency responders tried to resuscitate the man, but he died at Vail Valley Medical Center a short time later.

Sheriff's department spokeswoman Kim Andree said an investigation into the accident is under way, but no autopsy will be performed.

It's the first known death in Eagle County blamed on fireworks.