On Saturday October 24, 2015 at approximately 1:00 pm, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Explosives Ordinance Technician responded to N Mountain View Road in Mescal in regards to possible explosives being discovered in a utility trailer on the property.
Sheriff’s Office Patrol Units secured the area and initiated immediate evacuations. Mescal Fire/Rescue responded to assist as needed.
The initial person reporting had been hired to cut grass and clean the property and also clean out the utility trailer that was reportedly left on the property for the past seven to eight years.
The trailer is identified as belonging to a previous co-worker of the property owner who stated that the owner had asked to store the trailer on the property until such time as it could be picked up. The property owner identified that attempts to contact the owner of the trailer were unsuccessful. The property owner noted that due to the deteriorating condition of the trailer that the decision was made to dispose of the contents and trailer.
Upon arrival it was determined that the explosives were viable and identified as IREMITE 40 (ammonia nitrate based high explosive). One fifty (50) pound case and three chubs (tubes measuring 1″ x 16″) were seized from the trailer. The three separate chubs were discovered in an US Military surplus satchel/bag. The total number of chubs is identified as seventy eight (78). The total net explosive weight of all items is approximately sixty three (63) pounds.