L.A. police start fire to destroy dynamite
In Los Angeles, a cache of roughly 50 pounds of old, deteriorating dynamite was found in a warehouse following a standoff, and authorities burned down the building after determining the explosives were too dangerous to move.
Television coverage showed bright orange flames and a thick plume of smoke erupting through the building’s roof shortly before 6:30 a.m., and the structure was fully engulfed minutes later. “It’s so unstable … it’s best to burn it in place,” said Los Angeles Police Lt. Paul Vernon.
Police believe the location was being used to house stolen goods and that the dynamite was not connected to terrorism, Vernon said. About 150 firefighters were at the scene and approximately 50 people were evacuated from the surrounding area, Fire Department Captain Lou Routoli said.
The California Highway Patrol, at the request of the LAPD, closed a section of Interstate 405 while the warehouse was burned during the morning rush hour. The freeway is one of the main links between Los Angeles and cities to the north, and it reopened after about 45 minutes.
Source: Seattle PI
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