Camp Minden explosive situation far worse than expected
By: Stephanie Claytor
Updated: December 3, 2012
Louisiana State Police say there are millions more of illegally and improperly stored explosives at Camp Minden than they originally estimated.
In a press conference Sunday, Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmunson said while moving the explosives, they discovered there are six million pounds of explosive powder housed at Explo Systems Inc. At first, officials believed there was only one million pounds of the powder.
According to Edmunson, in two days, his staff and Explo Systems employees moved just under a million pounds of the explosive powder into 18-wheelers and they segregated 250,000 more pounds of the powder and prepared it to be moved into igloos.
During the press conference, Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton said the evacuation order is still in place and he urges residents not to return to Doyline until they have finished the operation.
Sexton does not expect the evacuation order to be lifted until Tuesday. Doyline residents can get through the roadblocks if they present identification.
In addition, Sexton said he is also talking to Doyline School Board members to see if they will close school Tuesday as well. Col. Edmunson said the State Police has located the owners of Explo Systems Inc. They were in South Korea and plan to return to the United States Monday. He said State Police has advised them that they would like to meet with them as soon as possible.
Reported by NBC 6 News Reporter Stephanie Claytor, 12/2/12
NBC 6 News Stephanie Claytor was at the news conference today and will bring details at 10 tonight.
