Amador County – About 150 people were evacuated from four streets in eastern Jackson Wednesday after demolition workers discovered a box of very old dynamite that was believed to be about 96 years old.
The dynamite was treated with chemicals, and was ignited and burned, by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad, and the 150 or so affected residents were not allowed to go home until after midnight, when the nearly 11-hour evacuation order was lifted.
Portions of four streets in central Jackson, near Highway 49, were evacuated Wednesday afternoon after the discovery of very old dynamite inside an old barn at 72 French Bar Road that was slated for demolition.
The Jackson Police Department was alerted to the discovery of the dynamite at about 1:30 p.m., and began an evacuation of a quarter-mile radius around the barn. Hernandez said it affected about 150 people, who were evacuated from homes or businesses on portions of French Bar Road, South Avenue, Gordon Place and Shopping Circle Drive.
Hernandez notified the media of the evacuation order at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Hernandez said the barn was being prepared for destruction, when the dynamite was found. She said: “The Calaveras County Bomb Squad has been alerted and is on the way.”
Hernandez said the dynamite was believed to date from the 1915 era, and “had begun to sweat.” Calaveras Bomb Unit personnel reportedly said they had never seen so much crystallized dynamite. The Bomb Unit soaked the dynamite in acetone and it was removed from the barn.
Hernandez said right around 11 p.m., the dynamite was ignited and burned, emitting a flash and a small explosion. It was extinguished soon after that. The American Red Cross opened and operated an emergency shelter at the Jackson Civic Center during the evacuation, which was lifted at about 12:20 a.m. Thursday, after nearly 11 hours.
Responders included Jackson Fire Department and Cal-Fire.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
