DATE: June 26, 2003
INCIDENT TYPE: Explosive
Device
LOCATION: District
10
TYPE OF WORK ACTIVITY:
Potentially Encountered During Litter Pick-Up
THE ACCIDENT: The
following incident report was distributed by the California Department
of Forestry and Fire Protection. This report is being distributed to
Caltrans employees since the potential exists to encounter similar devices
during litter pick-up.
Fire and
Law Enforcement Use Only
Incident Name: Hwy 88
Incident Type: Wild Land Fire with Secondary Device - Pipe Bomb
Incident #: 9289
Fire #: 165 Date: 06-19-03 Time: 2:13 AM
On June 19, 2003 at 2:13
AM, fire units from the Amador-El Dorado Unit and the Ione City Fire
Department responded to a small wildland fire on Hwy 88 near Los Ranchos
Road, (approximately 2 miles East of Hwy 88 and Hwy 104 Intersection)
Local law enforcement was on scene of the fire prior to the first arriving
fire units.
At 2:27 AM, Chief 6200
of the Ione City Fire Department arrived on the scene. Chief 6200 reported
to the ECC a small wildland fire with a slow rate of spread.
At 2:29 AM, CDF Engine
4581 arrived on scene. As the fire personnel exited the engine, they
heard an explosion. At that time, Chief 6200 was walking towards E-4581
(eastbound a long side Hwy 88). Chief 6200 was in close proximity of
the explosion. The weather at the time of the fire was temperature 57
degrees, humidity of 87% and calm winds.
The device was located
approximately 4 feet from the burn. The device was a 6-inch long, ½
inch diameter piece of galvanized metal pipe. It had one threaded end
cap in place, the other end blown off. The pipe body had failed and
was also blown open. The pipe bomb package was wrapped in a red cloth,
some thin cardboard and a brown paper bag. THE UNEXPLODED DEVICE
COULD EASILY APPEAR AS ROADSIDE TRASH. The device exploded at approximately
2:32 AM.
RECOMMENDATIONS: All
employees should be reminded of the proper procedures for handling suspicious
items discovered during their work. Properly identify any material or
object before handling, it may be hazardous. Also review your local
list of people to contact when a suspicious item is discovered. The
discovery of an explosive device (or any other potentially injurious
item) should be treated in much the same manner a s a hazardous materials
spill. For the basics of hazardous materials response always remember
the acronym SIN from first responder training:
S - Think safety (first,
last and always)
I -- Safely attempt to isolate and deny entry
N -- Make proper notifications and request resources
