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County Services Bureau Deputy Personnel Thwart Explosive Threat.

Deputy personnel assigned to Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center responded to a call regarding found bottles of Picric Acid.

On September 6, 2013 at 11:45 a.m. a hospital employee at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center found two bottles of Picric Acid in a room inside the center. He notified Deputy personnel and they responded and evacuated the area. Downey Fire Department responded along with the Los Angeles County Fire Department Haz Mat Unit. It was determined by a chemist that the Picric Acid was old and had crystallized making it unstable.

Picric Acid has been used as a military explosive, and is very unstable once it has crystalized. Percussion or rapid heating can cause it to explode.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Arson/Explosives Detail was called in and responded with an Explosive Containment Vessel to destroy the Picric Acid safely. Deputy personnel responded from LAC+USC Medical Center and Martin Luther King Medical Center to assist with street closures surrounding the location.

At 3:20 p.m. an Arson/Explosive Detail member in a full Bomb Suit removed the Picric Acid bottles and placed them into the Explosive Containment Vessel where they were detonated.

The investigation regarding this incident is on-going.

Printable PDF version of News Release

Arso/Explosive Detail Member in Full Body Suit going into building

Arso/Explosive Detail Member in Full Body Suit carrying out Pecric Acid

Explosive Containment Vessel

Arso/Explosive Detail Member placing Pecric Acid in Explosive Containment vessel for detonation.

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