Dynamite Disposal set for Tuesday

If you hear loud blasts in one part of Lexington County on Tuesday don't be alarmed. Deputies say they plan to dispose of 400 pounds of dynamite.

LEESVILLE, S.C. (WOLO) — If you hear loud blasts in one part of Lexington County on Tuesday don’t be alarmed. Deputies say they plan to dispose of 400 pounds of dynamite.

According to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, deputies will be working with the State Law Enforcement Division and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tuesday morning to “properly and safely dispose of” the dynamite.

You should expect to hear dozens of loud blasts near Caney Branch Road in Leesville starting mid-morning Tuesday through most of the day and evening.

Deputies say technicians who specialize in explosive disposals selected a detonation site that will not impact nearby homes aside from the sound of the blasts. According to a press release, discoveries of old dynamite are not uncommon in Lexington County where explosives have been used in mining, agriculture and construction for decades.

Here are some steps to take if you find items that you suspect might be explosives:

• Do not touch or move the material.
• Leave the immediate area.
• Call 911.