Alaska News

Forget the fireworks: Fourth of July dynamite blast rocks Sitka, damages residence

Sitka police are investigating a large Fourth of July dynamite blast at a local quarry, which reportedly did damage to at least one home in the area.

Sitka Police Chief Sheldon Schmitt said no charges had been filed Thursday in connection with the detonation of dynamite and blasting caps, reported around 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Granite Creek Rock Quarry. Investigating officers found the materials had been taken from an area contractor's supply, by an employee authorized to set explosives.

Schmitt said he didn't personally see the device that caused the explosion, but officers relayed an impression of its size with their hands rather than mentioning the number of sticks involved or their total weight.

"There were several pretty large bundles that were rigged to go off," Schmitt said. "The pile was about as big as a bushel basket, or that's what I was told."

Several houses are in the vicinity of the quarry, Schmitt said, and a homeowner who lives within a mile of the blast site, called police to report damage from the detonation.

"One of the homes allegedly sustained some damage to its foundation, so you can imagine this was a pretty big boom that was felt around town," Schmitt said.

Responding officers found part of the dynamite hadn't detonated, but Schmitt said they were able to safely destroy the remainder Monday evening. Police also secured the explosives cache from which the dynamite came, and were investigating possible violations of explosives storage procedures.

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Schmitt said an unrelated magnitude 3.6 earthquake, felt in Sitka about two hours later Monday evening, sparked extensive speculation among locals that the blast had caused the quake.

"People thought maybe they were associated at first," Schmitt said.

Investigators were told the employee had invited about a half-dozen people to watch the blast, Schmitt said.

"I guess you could call it an unsanctioned independent fireworks show," Schmitt said. "He was gonna have a big boom on July 4."

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been notified of the incident, Schmitt said.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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