THAYNE, Wyo. (KIFI) — A routine cleanup of a newly purchased barn led to a full-scale bomb squad response on Monday after a local homeowner made a dangerous discovery: six boxes of suspected mining explosives.
Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson said the discovery was made Aug. 10 at a home on Duffin Circle, south of Thayne. The man had been cleaning out the loft of the barn when he discovered several boxes clearly stamped with “HIGH EXPLOSIVES” and “DANGEROUS”.
The man immediately called the authorities, and Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded alongside the Teton County Sheriff’s Office/Jackson Police Department Joint Regional Bomb Squad.
“Upon arrival, bomb technicians deployed portable X-ray equipment to inspect the boxes,” stated Sheriff Johnson. “After confirming the compounds were stable, the explosives were removed and transported for further testing and final disposal.”
Sheriff Johnson says once the bomb squad tests the boxes to determine the exact contents, law enforcement will either detonate the explosives in a controlled manner, neutralize them with other compounds, or safely disperse them.
Praising the homeowner’s quick thinking, Johnson urged anyone who finds suspected explosives or vintage military munitions not to touch them and contact law enforcement immediately.
