Dynamite In Puyallup Detonated Successfully

PUYALLUP - Four cases of decades-old dynamite found buried here yesterday were detonated by police this morning, causing a powerful blast and a cloud of debris that covered half a block.

The dynamite was uncovered at 128th Street East and Meridian Street by construction workers digging a trench and clearing an area for a new drugstore. It was buried six feet underground.

Ed Troyer, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman, said it is not known how the dynamite got there, but it is believed to have been manufactured in 1951.

Bomb-squad members had determined that it was unstable and highly volatile, making it too dangerous to move. They described it as nitroglycerin based with ammonia-nitrate primer.

Before setting it off at around 10:30 a.m., emergency workers evacuated the area. In all, some 20 apartment units and three schools were evacuated. Planes and buses were diverted. Police also cautioned local residents to leave their windows partially open to help prevent breakage from the explosion.

Sheriff's deputies, fire department employees and workers from water, cable, power and transportation companies had set up a command post nearby at Pierce County Fire Station 66. A bomb squad then proceeded into the site to set up C 4 explosives.