Xcel Energy employees working on power poles near Red Cliff recently discovered some “very old” dynamite, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said today.
The sheriff’s office said that it, with the help of the Grand Junction bomb squad, were able to safely remove the explosives from the area.
The sheriff’s office said that in the spring, it is important for residents to be alert for the presence of uncovered explosives which have surfaced because of spring rains and melting snow.
This is particularly important in areas around current and former mining areas, said the sheriff’s office.
Older explosives can become very unstable and simply touching them can set them off.
Something as small as an old blasting cap the size of a pencil could cause the loss of several fingers.
If explosives are found, individuals should not touch them, should mark the area and relay the information to local law enforcement.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
