VALLEY GLEN, CA – A routine garage cleaning project turned into a major neighborhood emergency Wednesday morning after a homeowner discovered 20 sticks of active dynamite hidden inside a freezer.
The Shocking Discovery
The incident began around 9:00 a.m. on the 6100 block of Rhodes Avenue. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the female homeowner uncovered the explosives while cleaning.
LAPD officials stated the woman had no idea the dynamite was there. She and her late husband had purchased the refrigerator when they originally bought the home years ago.
Bomb Squad Responds and Evacuates Neighborhood
Specialized bomb technicians rushed to the scene and confirmed that the 10 to 15 pounds of dynamite was still active. Because an accidental detonation could have caused severe destruction, authorities immediately took action:
- A 500-foot evacuation zone was established.
- An estimated 32 residents were evacuated from their homes.
- Several surrounding streets were completely shut down.
To make the explosives safe for transport, experts soaked the dynamite sticks in diesel fuel—a process known as desensitizing. The cache was then loaded into a total containment vessel to be moved to a secure location. No fuses or blasting caps were found on the property.
No Criminal Investigation
The LAPD is not treating this as a criminal case. Instead, the incident is being classified as “lost/found property.”
Investigators noted the dynamite sticks were somewhat wet, though it remains unclear if the moisture was due to chemical instability or simply melting ice from the thawing freezer. Authorities are now working to trace the origin of the decades-old explosives.
