UPDATE: Residents can safely return to the area that was evacuated while trained Bomb Squad technicians worked to safely dispose of a large amount of commercial grade explosives and blast caps that were found inside of a steel box on Mynderse Avenue Thursday afternoon. 

The evacuation was lifted at 10 p.m. on Friday night after technicians completely cleared the contents of the box and rendered them safe. The explosives were soaked in diesel fuel and burned, while the blast caps were taken to a safe location and detonated. 

The response was led by the KPD Bomb Squad and drone team members with support and assistance from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Nashville Police Department Bomb Squads, the Knoxville Fire Department, AMR, Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management, the Red Cross, and City of Knoxville Traffic Engineering and Public Service. 

No injuries were reported, including to any Bomb Squad technicians or first responders. 

Attached are drone photos captured from the scene, which includes initial photos of the box as well as Bomb Squad technicians removing the explosives by hand. The full resolution images can be found on the KPD social media channels. 

UPDATE: 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 (Saturday) morning.

UPDATE: The evacuations prompted by the suspected explosive material that was found on Mynderse Avenue on Thursday afternoon is expected to remain in effect through the remainder of the night and potentially into Friday night.

Residents living within an approximately 3,000-square foot perimeter of CMC Recycling located at 2706 Mynderse Avenue have been implored to evacuate. Residents are strongly urged to stay away from the evacuation zone until it has been deemed safe to return.

KPD Bomb Squad personnel will remain on scene throughout the night.

The explosive material was found inside an approximately 5×5 steel box that is actively emitting smoke. It is suspected that the box contains a large amount of dynamite, though that has not yet been confirmed.

KPD NEWS RELEASE: Evacuations Ordered Due to Suspected Explosives

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.