Police in Hay River responded to a call at a local residence this week after the family of a deceased person reported finding explosives stored in the home.
On Tuesday, Hay River RCMP said they received a report from the family of a deceased person regarding degraded explosives they found while cleaning out the deceased person’s residence in the West Channel area of Hay River.
Police said the deceased had worked as a prospector in the past and used the explosives for blasting.
“To ensure the safety of the public, officers evacuated residences within a 150 meters radius while awaiting the arrival of a Tactical Police Explosive Technician. Once the technician arrived on scene, steps were taken to decrease the volatility of the explosives, and they were subsequently removed from the property and safely disposed of,” said Hay River RCMP.
Explosives need special care and a regulated environment to be stored safely and lawfully, these requirements have special considerations over time said police.
“As explosives degrade, they become more volatile, making handling extremely dangerous,” explained the RCMP.
The RCMP cautioned the public to treat any blasting equipment or suspected explosives as dangerous. Anyone who believes they have encountered explosives and related materials is advised by the RCMP to contact their local detachment
