Police say evacuation prompted by suspected explosives will continue overnight
- by Knoxville News Sentinel
- Oct 12, 2024
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Update: Knoxville police: Box of explosives rendered safe, evacuation lifted
People who were told to evacuate the area of Mynderse and Western avenues likely won't get to go home or reopen their businesses overnight while a bomb squad investigates a steel box filled with suspected explosives.
During a press conference at 7 p.m. Oct. 10, Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department spokesmen said the evacuation announced that afternoon would continue, likely into the next day.
KPD and KFD crews were called to CMC Recycling at 2706 Mynderse Ave. at 2:15 p.m. Oct. 10 in response to a report that employees there had discovered a five-foot-by-five-foot steel box that contained suspected dynamite and was smoking, KPD posted in a statement on Facebook.
The bomb squad has not confirmed definitively what is in the box that is smoking. “We’re not dealing with some small amount of suspected dynamite. We're dealing with a large amount, and again, still have not definitively determined what this material is, but that is our suspicion at this time,” KPD spokesman Scott Erland said.
"There is no evidence to suggest foul play or that the box was left on site maliciously," the Facebook post said. "It is believed that employees were sorting through material when they discovered the box and attempted to open it. They called 911 immediately after seeing the contents."
Emergency alerts were sent to the phones of people in the evacuation area. The Jacob Building in Chilhowee Park was identified as an emergency shelter for residents who were ordered to evacuate, according to the KPD's Facebook post.
Emergency officials are working together to determine how many people have ignored the evacuation request, which fire spokesman Mark Wilbanks said is not an order but highly recommended. So far, he said, upwards of 1,200 people have left their homes and businesses.
The businesses along Western Avenue in the evacuation zone will remain closed until the situation is resolved, Wilbanks said. KFD and KPD are working to get businesses reopened as soon as possible.
Western Avenue is closed between Texas and Massachusetts avenues as police continue to investigate, with Knoxville police and fire vehicles blocking access to main roads and side streets. Motorists should take alternate routes.
"The work that the bomb squad does is incredibly delicate," Erland said. "The process really slows down because they have to really have a lot of confidence in what they're dealing with and the actions that they take what is going to happen based on those actions."
The Knoxville Police Department has consulted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which recommended the current evacuation area, but the KPD is making investigative decisions on its own. Police have not been made aware of any other threats of explosives in the area, Erland said.
“We believe this is going to be a prolonged event," he said. "We believe this is an event that might last into tomorrow night."
Evacuees take shelter at Jacob Building
By 8 p.m. Oct. 10, more than 60 people were gathered in the designated, Red Cross-operated shelter at the Jacob Building, and more were expected, with room for up to “a couple hundred” people if needed, shelter manager Brent Sadler said.
The space had cots with blankets set up, Papa John’s pizza, hot meals and cases of water available. The Knox County Health Department is here as well.
“We’re here until they don’t need us. The Red Cross will be here until every body can return home safely,” Sadler said.
KAT and AMR were providing transport to the Jacob Building, and people can call 865-215-4010 for assistance, the city posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Startled by evacuation alert, people sought safety
Corrine Holness was awakened by her grandson when the evacuation alert sent out around 4 p.m.. She and her grandson jumped into the car to make their way to the American Red Cross shelter at the Jacob Building.
Holness thought it was another tragedy in Lonsdale before learning about the potentially explosive material found in the area.
“They’re giving us a choice, but common sense for me is to go where safety is. If too many people tell you the same thing, so it’s real,” Holness said. “I feel like I’m blessed and thankful that we have a place to go. The city, they care enough to make sure that we’re taken care of.”
Kerry Conner was outside of her home along with her kids when her mother received the evacuation notification.
By the time she heard the announcement on the radio and received her own notification, Conner and her family were already away from the house and headed to the shelter, though she took the time to grab an emergency bag from her house.
“We’ve got our family here safe and hopefully everything will be all right around the area,” Conner said.
She hoped for the safety of the crews handling the situation.
Mark Brittingham was inside his apartment in Lonsdale when he received the notification around 4 p.m.
He wasn’t sure what the alert was at first. He saw it was for an evacuation, and a knock on the door from a police officer confirmed that he, his daughter and his dog needed to leave.
They went to the rental office building and hopped on a bus to go to the shelter. Brittingham said they had been well taken care of with food for everyone and a place to sleep for the night.
“They got my dog fed, and my daughter, she's 6 years old, she's autistic. She’s got food. We're all good,” Brittingham said.
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