Dynamite found in Lorain; Bomb squad defuses box of explosives (with video)


The Lorain County Bomb Squad uses a remote-controlled robot to approach and investigate the pile of dynamite sticks as they burn near the intersection of Pole Avenue and W. 23rd Street Wednesday in Lorain.


The dynamite in a yellow bag labeled "peat moss."

A potentially explosive situation was defused because of the quick response of the Lorain County Bomb Squad.

At 7:15 a.m., Wednesday, officers were called to the 1700 block of West 22nd Street near the intersection of Pole Avenue, where a box of dynamite had been discovered.

"We sent our units who confirmed it was there," Lorain Police Captain Tom Mize said. "They also confirmed that it appeared to be very old. Had the dynamite gone off, I have no doubt, four or five houses would have been destroyed."

As soon as the dynamite was confirmed, the Lorain Police called in the Lorain County Bomb Squad.

"We also established a perimeter of 500 feet," Mize added.

Officers were worried the age of the dynamite might make it more apt to explode.

"The nitroglycerin may seep out," Mize said. "Any sort of jostling or shaking or even static electricity can set it off."

The dynamite may have been sitting unattended for more than 50 years, said the owner of the property, Doug Majka.

"There was a pool that was there in the 1960s," Majka said. "The dynamite was under the metal tank that was used as a pool filter."

Majka said the pool was filled in and grass had been growing over it for quite some time.

"I actually came across the dynamite last night," Majka said. "The tank was moved and it was sitting under a bag that was labeled 'Peat Moss.'"

Majka moved the bag and found the dynamite.

"There was a case that said 'Warning: Dynamite' right on it," Majka said. "I opened it up and picked up a few sticks. It was pretty wet and soggy and smushed."

One of the men who was taking the tank to scrap for money even tried to light a stick, Majka said.

Majka said he had posted his finding on Facebook last night, but called the police this morning at the urging of his mother.

"She was probably right," Majka said. "I called the police and they told me it was going to get busy over there. They were right."

While it's illegal to have dynamite without a permit, the chances of police charges coming forward are virtually nonexistent, Mize said.

"It wasn't known that the dynamite was there," Mize said. "It has probably been there since the days when dynamite was used for landscaping and whatnot."

By the time the Bomb Squad arrived to assess the scene, the Lorain Police and Fire departments had established a perimeter and evacuated homes within a two- to three-block radius.

"We evacuated everything but the Charleston Center," Mize said. "We told them to stay at the back of the building and away from any windows. It's a hot day."

Mize said it's not uncommon to find dynamite in the city, but usually only a stick or two is found, not a full case.

"Dynamite had been used to get rid of tree stumps and things like that before the city fully developed," Mize said. "It's not uncommon that there are random sticks found. A case or two, though, is rare. In my 28 years, I don't think I've ever seen that much dynamite."

The Bomb Squad arrived to the scene about 9:25 a.m., Wednesday and determined they would dispose of the dynamite by doing a controlled burn on site, Mize said.

"The dynamite was deemed too dangerous to move by the Bomb Squad," Mize said. "They sent in a robot who would move the dynamite into a steel bomb disposal container."

Once in the container, the dynamite would be soaked in diesel fuel for the burn, Mize said.

Things became a little more serious, though, when a second case of dynamite was discovered.

"I'm not sure where at, but it sounds like it was in close proximity to the first," Mize said.

"Combined, there are probably 50 sticks of dynamite," Mize said. "They didn't really want to pick through the cases, though."

The Bomb Squad continued to work, setting up a site for the controlled burn for about an hour before the robot was sent into the danger zone about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.

"It looked like the dynamite was very unstable," Mize said. "The sticks were oozing chemicals and it appeared that the cases were very susceptible to explosion."

The original plan called for the $250,000 robot to work at removing the dynamite and place it the steel disposal container, where it would then be put into a controlled burn.

"The container ended up not being used," Mize said. "In the end, the Bomb Squad decided there were too many dangers in using the container."

Mize said the possibility of the dynamite exploding while being loaded into the container was a risk.

"If that would have happened, there would have been house shrapnel everywhere," Mize said. "Why take that risk?"

The Bomb Squad decided to have the robot place the dynamite in the street and have the controlled burn there.

"If it blows up in the street, you basically have a loud firecracker that is primarily going to hurt the street," Mize said. "It eliminates the chance of people being hurt by flying objects greatly."

A member of the bomb squad doused the dynamite in diesel fuel before the robot entered the scene and moved the dynamite to the street, according to Mize. After the dynamite was in the street, the robot was sent in with a flare to start the fire at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"There are still a few sticks that were dropped on the way to the street," Mize said. "But that will be quick to take care of compared to 50, which is a conservative count."

He added that the Bomb Squad said there was a chance of the dynamite exploding, but the chances were slim.

"The dynamite could explode," Mize said. "But the precautions taken by the Bomb Squad lowers that chance to a slim possibility."

The robot was sent back out to the burn at 1:07 p.m. Wednesday to jostle the dynamite and check on the status of the burn.

"There was still a lot of dynamite that hasn't burned," said Mize after the robot returned. "But let's be honest, that robot has earned its pay today."

According to Mize, the controlled burn was completed at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Residents were allowed back into their homes around 4 p.m.

"Lorain County Bomb squad stepped up and handled this thing with great care and patience," Mize said. "They did a very good job handling the situation."

Jessica James contributed to this report

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