The Greene County Sheriff's Department was investigating Saturday night a series of explosions heard over a 10-mile area west of Springfield.

According to Capt. Randy Gibson of the Greene County Sheriff's Department, the department received "eight or nine calls" of explosions in the area of Greene County EE.

"We got reports from as far away as (Missouri) 266 west of town and north to Willard of explosions and light flashes. Some were loud enough to rattle windows at residences north of I-44 and some were barely audible.

"It's a bit of a mystery to us at this point," said Gibson, who said he heard the explosions himself from his home. "They did not sound like a sonic boom and there shouldn't be any blasting in that area."

He said he heard four very loud explosions and eight smaller ones. He said the first one occurred about 7:45 and they continued for about 25 or 30 minutes.

"Willard Police officers heard them, and the 911 call center in the middle of town."