Not so long ago, Alberta farmers and ranchers had easy access to dynamite and detonators.
Because of these old rules, there is a large — but unquantified — amount of degraded dynamite in the province. Every year, many Albertans report finding dynamite or detonators stored, or in some cases forgotten, on their properties.
Anyone who finds such items on their property should be cautious and immediately report it to their local detachment.
In the past year, police recovered 115 detonators and have dealt with 10 files involving detonators and dynamite. In addition, the Explosives Disposal Unit recovered a total of four hand grenades within one week in Devon, Red Deer, and Didsbury.
Read Also
Alberta potato growers face rising costs, trade uncertainty and global competition
Alberta potato growers are navigating surging input costs, new global competitors, and an uncertain U.S. trade relationship.
“It is so important for people to understand how dangerous these materials can be no matter how much time has passed since they were stored,” Cpl. Paul Zanon of Explosives Disposal Unit said in a news release Oct. 20.
“Two weeks ago, we recovered two hand grenades in Devon with the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces, and one of them was still active despite being encased in concrete some 60 years ago. We can`t stress it enough. If you find such materials on your property, do not touch or move them. Immediately report it to police.”
The RCMP is well equipped to dispose of degraded dynamite and all other types of explosives, and will do so at no cost.
When advising police, take photos if possible, and inform them of the age of the device, its location, and the amount that is present.
