The Franklin County Bomb Squad returned to Caledonia today to recover and render harmless the dynamite that was discovered last night in a shed.  On the advice of bomb squad personnel, approximately 12 residences were evacuated this morning.  All residents left without incident and will be allowed to return after an “all clear” is given by bomb technicians.  This process is expected to take most of the day and an update will be given at the conclusion of the operation.

At approximately 5:30 pm last night a family member to the deceased owner at 411 N. Elm Street reported to the fire department the presence of six or seven sticks of dynamite in the shed.  The house has been unoccupied and the family member wanted the fire department to remove and dispose of the dynamite.  The dynamite has been in the shed for 15 to 20 years.

The Franklin County Bomb Squad arrived to the residence at approximately 8:20 pm Tuesday night and decided to wait until today so that they could safely evaluate the situation.

Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies will be on scene throughout the day and request that area residents avoid the area until it is safe to return.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office bomb squad will return to a Caledonia residence Wednesday morning to investigate a report of dynamite in a shed.

The bomb squad arrived at the vacant residence about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday and decided for safety reasons to return in daylight to evaluate the situation at the property at Liberty and Elm streets, Marion County sheriff's Lt. Duane Meadows said.

A sheriff's deputy was to remain at the location overnight to keep the property secured, Meadows said.

Meadows said family members aware of the presence of "six or seven sticks of dynamite" in the shed at the unoccupied house did not go to the residence, but earlier Tuesday called the fire department seeking assistance to dispose of the items left behind by a deceased family member.

The fire department contacted the sheriff's office, which called for the bomb squad.

He said the bomb squad did not recommend any evacuation. He said because the dynamite had been in the shed for 15 to 20 years without incident it represented no reason for alarm "as long as everybody stays away from it."

The sheriff's office, he said, would follow the advice of the bomb squad regarding any possible evacuation or other measure once it had arrived and studied the situation.

Meadows estimated the sheriff's office receives a report of the discovery of a potentially dangerous ordnance once approximately every two years.

"We're taking the proper precautions," he said.

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