Federal agents were part of a multi-agency response to a north Laramie, Wyoming, neighborhood after 14 mobile homes were evacuated Tuesday because of “the presence of potential explosives,” local officials report.
The explosives turned out to be materials to make fireworks discovered when family members of the man who lived there found them while cleaning out the home after his death, said Lt. Craig Lenhardt of the Laramie Police Department.
Lenhardt declined to provide information about the decedent other than to say that the man was at one point involved in making fireworks.
The family members contacted first responders to the home at 530 Beaufort St., which is the Prairies Eagle mobile home park in north Laramie. First responders issued the evacuation order out of caution, Lenhardt said.
Evacuated
Residents were evacuated from mobile homes located in spaces 33-35 and 83-95 around 3 p.m. Tuesday, and Albany County Emergency Management issued the order shortly before 3.
“Due to the presence of potential explosives in the area, an immediate evacuation is required,” the agency reported. “All personnel and civilians must evacuate to a minimum distance of 300 meters from the incident location at 530 Beaufort St.”
Lenhardt said he understood that agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the FBI, responded and assisted with the situation.
Albany County Emergency Management issued the all-clear for people to return to their homes at around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday.
“It took so long because [we wanted] to make sure all the fireworks material was identified to exactly what it is by our bomb team,” Lenhardt said.
In addition to the federal agencies, the Laramie Police Department, Laramie Fire Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and Albany County Emergency Management responded to the home.
Contact Matthew Christian at matthew@cowboystatedaily.com
Matthew Christian can be reached at matthew@cowboystatedaily.com.
