Stored ammo in Reseda explodes, forcing evacuation of homes

LAT ^ | June 1, 2009 | Ari Bloomekatz

[Daffynition]

Two backyard sheds and a metal container in which ammunition was stored caught fire and exploded Sunday in a Reseda neighborhood, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes, authorities said.

The fire and explosion were reported at 8:43 a.m. in the 19200 block of Ingomar Street. It took firefighters about 90 minutes to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported.

Crews had to douse the flames from about 50 feet away because ammunition continued to go off, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman D'Lisa Davies. According to arriving firefighters, Davies said, it "sounded like thousands of rounds were going off."

Five homes were evacuated. Davies said that the sheds and the container were a short distance from a single-family home and that the owner was on the scene and cooperating with authorities.

[snip]

[Daffynition]

What a waste.

[Keith Brown]

I can see this as a poster story for a stored ammo ban or a revival of the “arsenal” ban attempts.

Ugh!

[Fido969]

Even though no one was injured - do you think we will suddenly have calls for limits on the amount of ammo that can be stored?

[snowrip]

It sounds like it was maybe primers that were cooking off; if there were “thousands of rounds” going off, the firefighters would have to have been more than 50 feet away, and there would have been significant damage to the surrounding structures.

[snowrip]

We’re already there.

[Daffynition]

You betcha!

No smoking, K?

[Vaduz]

It was a test run.

[Daffynition]

It can be scary ....decades ago, Dad had a workbench fire that started when a soldering iron touched on a rag. Unfortunately, it was where the reloading supplies were stored too ... it was quite a mess. The smoke did more damage than anything ...and POP! POP! POP!

[east1234]

Anyone know what limits there are for primers and powder? I’ve heard different things, like 5000 primers and 8 pounds of powder. I don’t have this many of anything but was hoping to buy some more if demand ever lets up, and would not want to run afoul of federal laws.

[Fido969]

That’s a start.

[Fido969]

Rounds that explode outside of rifle barrels mostly just throw some shrapnel around from the shell casings from what I have seen.

[clee1]

I am WAY over those limits....

[Travis McGee]

Even though no one was injured - do you think we will suddenly have calls for limits on the amount of ammo that can be stored?

You bet.

[A Rifleman]

Reports I keep hearing on the radio this morning say “he had the proper permits for the ammunition”. What are they talking about? No permits needed for purchase or storage of ammo in Cali that I know of.

[Joe Brower]

[wastedyears]

Oops

[Oldpuppymax]

Kinda makes you want to cry. All that ammo, wasted.

[blackie]

My sentiments exactly!

[panaxanax]

Yes. And also limits on purchases will be restricted to two boxes per week. This has already started in some areas.

ALWAYS PAY CASH WHEN BUYING AMMO!!

[HotLead61]

I see that the arsonists at BATFE have been busy.