Agents detonate dozens of sticks of dynamite in Anson County

ANSON COUNTY, N.C. — Bomb squads from two counties and federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents were called to Anson County after dozens of sticks of deteriorating dynamite were found in a barn.

They'd been stored there by a farmer who died recently. Sheriff Tommy Allen said his office was contacted by a relative earlier this week and asked to help.

Friday afternoon two distinct booms could be heard across southern Anson County.

Explosives experts detonated several bags of blasting caps that were found along with the dynamite.

They also set fire to the dynamite, which they said actually minimized the risk of explosions.

ATF agents said because the dynamite was as much as 50 years old, it could have been even more dangerous than newer dynamite.

Allen said the explosives had been used decades ago to blow up stumps while clearing land for farming. All of the explosives were diffused without incident.

WSOC