Knoxville, TN (WOKI / KPD) UPDATE 10/11 1:28 p.m.: Earlier this morning, an explosive ordnance robot was deployed to get a sample of the suspected explosives found inside of a box at CMC Recycling on Thursday afternoon.
The sample tested positive for ammonium nitrate, as confirmed by lab scientists at Quantico, which is consistent with dynamite.
Currently, Bomb Squad technicians are actively working to remove the dynamite from the box and safely dispose of it. In order to dispose of dynamite, technicians will methodically remove it from the box, douse the dynamite in diesel fuel, and burn it.
Those efforts are being supported by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Nashville Police Department Bomb Squads, including advanced MNPD robotic equipment.
It was initially reported that the box contained around 200 sticks of dynamite. Technicians have not yet verified how many pieces of dynamite are in the box.
There is no evidence to suggest that the box was left on the site maliciously or with criminal intent. CMC Recycling is a metal recycling facility that purchases material to be salvaged. The box, which was locked and unmarked, was on the site for at least several days. On Thursday, CMC Recycling was using a torch to salvage the box when they unintentionally set the box on fire and discovered the dynamite.
The box is no longer smoldering or emitting smoke.
The evacuation zone will remain in place until Bomb Squad technicians have completely disposed of the contents of the box and it is deemed safe to return to the area.
That work is expected to continue into tonight and potentially into tomorrow morning.
UPDATE: Knoxville, TN (WOKI / KPD) Residents within a 3,000-foot radius of suspected explosives that were found on Mynderse Avenue have been ordered to evacuate.
At around 2:15 p.m. today, Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department personnel responded to CMC Recycling at 2706 Mynderse Avenue on a report that employees had discovered an approximately 5×5 steel box that contained suspected dynamite and was smoking.
KPD and KFD personnel closed Western Avenue between Texas Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue and immediately evacuated businesses in the immediate area.
KPD Bomb Squad technicians arrived at the scene and conducted an initial assessment of the box with the use of the drone. That assessment did not with complete certainty positively identify the contents of the box. However, based on that initial assessment and out of an abundance of caution, Bomb Squad technicians believe the box does contain explosives.
KPD and KFD officials have subsequently ordered an evacuation within an approximately 3,000-foot radius of the suspected explosives.
Efforts to evacuate the impacted area remain ongoing. Those efforts are being led by KPD and KFD with the assistance of Tennessee Highway Patrol deputies.
The Jacob Building has been established as an emergency shelter for residents who were ordered to evacuate.
Western Avenue remains closed between Pleasant Ridge Road and Massachusetts Avenue. The closure is expected to remain in place for an extended amount of time.
There is no evidence to suggest foul play or that the box was left on site maliciously. It is believed that employees were sorting through material when they discovered the box and attempted to open it. They called 9-1-1 immediately after seeing the contents.
KPD spokesman Scott Erland says Western Avenue and the evacuation area will be closed through tomorrow (Friday), possibly tomorrow (Friday) night while crews work to secure the box. He says it is not a mandatory evacuation but they are counting on residents to abide by the evacuation request. Erland also says there are several businesses in the evacuation area so they are working to clear the area so they can re-open.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville, TN (WVLT / WOKI) UPDATE: The Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department are on the scene of what could be a box of explosives near Western Avenue.
At this time, the situation is still extremely active. Those on the scene told WVLT News that KPD officers found the box on Mynderse Avenue, about 100 yards from the 2700 block of Western Avenue.
WVLT News also spoke with KPD Communications Manager Scott Erland, who said everyone on the scene is acting as if the box, which was at one point smoking, is explosive out of an abundance of caution.
An evacuation order came with the emergency response, which started around 2:15 p.m., Erland said. It covers a 3000 foot radius, more than half a mile, of the area.
“We’re going to take it slow and cautiously,” Erland said, adding that the response was likely to be a “prolonged event.”
The KPD spokesperson also said the department’s bomb squad had responded to the scene.
“At this point we really don’t know what we’re dealing with, just operating with the utmost caution,” Erland said.
