News: Quincy Fire - Fifty sticks of sweating dynamite

UPDATE: Highway 70 is now open; evacuated Quincy residents may return to their homes

Local fire and law enforcement are out on an explosives call on the west side of Quincy.

Fifty (50) sticks of sweating dynamite was found
in a residence in a local trailer park
Credit: Photos by Josh Sebold, Feather Publishing reporter

Evacuations: In the immediate and surrounding area have taken place, evacuation shelter
located at the local Veterans hall in Quincy.
Road closures: Hwy. 70 closed at a half mile either side of the incident.

Resources: Bomb Squad has been requested for explosives removal, enroute from
either Sacramento or Stockton (unknown which one at this point).
Quincy Fire, Plumas County S.O., CHP, PDH Ambulance on scene.
USFS-PNF and CalFire BTU had been assisting.

Notes: The scene is basically under control at this time (as much as it can be
anyway), awaiting arrival of explosives disposal personnel.

Update: This situation has been dealt with. The bomb squad arrived yesterday
evening and spent the night transporting the explosives from the
residence where found across Hwy 70 to the far side (NNE side) of the
Quincy Airport. Once there the dynamite was burned, and the other
explosives (fireworks) were detonated (I'm unclear on how they
disposed of the chemical explosives found). Several explosions could
be heard in the Quincy area this morning from the disposal operations.

It should be noted that the explosives found were not "planted". It
appears that they were found near a residence where the previous
occupant (who had passed away approximately a year ago) had
apparently had them stored, and they weren't known of until found
yesterday. Fortunately they were found prior to a disastrous event
occurring. Local officials have said that had those explosives
detonated where found, considering the amount found, it could have
conceivably leveled everything in a 1/4-1/2 mile radius.

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plumasnews.com

The last in a series of seven very loud explosions that were heard and felt by Quincy residents between 3:30 a.m. and 6:24 a.m. Thursday morning was soon followed by Plumas County Sheriff scanner traffic reporting, "All explosives have been taken care of..."

Nick Concolino, bomb squad commander from Yolo County, described how the bomb experts separated the different chemicals and explosives before placing them into nine different holes in the ground, dug three to four feet deep for safe detonation, and then set off seven separate explosions. Gansner Field, the local airport north of Quincy, was used for the detonations. The explosions repeatedly woke Quincy residents during the early morning hours.

Highway 70 was reopened around 3 a.m. and residents who had been evacuated were allowed to return to their homes.

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Sources: norcalscan.org / plumasnews.com