UPDATE: Residents can safely return to the area that was evacuated while trained Bomb Squad technicians worked to safely dispose of a large amount of commercial grade explosives and blast caps that were found inside of a steel box on Mynderse Avenue Thursday afternoon.
The evacuation was lifted at 10 p.m. on Friday night after technicians completely cleared the contents of the box and rendered them safe. The explosives were soaked in diesel fuel and burned, while the blast caps were taken to a safe location and detonated.
The response was led by the KPD Bomb Squad and drone team members with support and assistance from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Nashville Police Department Bomb Squads, the Knoxville Fire Department, AMR, Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management, the Red Cross, and City of Knoxville Traffic Engineering and Public Service.
No injuries were reported, including to any Bomb Squad technicians or first responders.
Attached are drone photos captured from the scene, which includes initial photos of the box as well as Bomb Squad technicians removing the explosives by hand. The full resolution images can be found on the KPD social media channels.
UPDATE: Earlier this morning, an explosive ordnance robot was deployed to get a sample of the suspected explosives found inside of a box at CMC Recycling on Thursday afternoon.
The sample tested positive for ammonium nitrate, as confirmed by lab scientists at Quantico, which is consistent with dynamite.
Currently, Bomb Squad technicians are actively working to remove the dynamite from the box and safely dispose of it. In order to dispose of dynamite, technicians will methodically remove it from the box, douse the dynamite in diesel fuel, and burn it.
Those efforts are being supported by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Nashville Police Department Bomb Squads, including advanced MNPD robotic equipment.
It was initially reported that the box contained around 200 sticks of dynamite. Technicians have not yet verified how many pieces of dynamite are in the box.
There is no evidence to suggest that the box was left on the site maliciously or with criminal intent. CMC Recycling is a metal recycling facility that purchases material to be salvaged. The box, which was locked and unmarked, was on the site for at least several days. On Thursday, CMC Recycling was using a torch to salvage the box when they unintentionally set the box on fire and discovered the dynamite.
The box is no longer smoldering or emitting smoke.
The evacuation zone will remain in place until Bomb Squad technicians have completely disposed of the contents of the box and it is deemed safe to return to the area.
That work is expected to continue into tonight and potentially into tomorrow (Saturday) morning.
UPDATE: The evacuations prompted by the suspected explosive material that was found on Mynderse Avenue on Thursday afternoon is expected to remain in effect through the remainder of the night and potentially into Friday night.
Residents living within an approximately 3,000-square foot perimeter of CMC Recycling located at 2706 Mynderse Avenue have been implored to evacuate. Residents are strongly urged to stay away from the evacuation zone until it has been deemed safe to return.
KPD Bomb Squad personnel will remain on scene throughout the night.
The explosive material was found inside an approximately 5×5 steel box that is actively emitting smoke. It is suspected that the box contains a large amount of dynamite, though that has not yet been confirmed.
KPD NEWS RELEASE: Evacuations Ordered Due to Suspected Explosives
Residents within a 3,000-foot radius of suspected explosives that were found on Mynderse Avenue have been ordered to evacuate.
At around 2:15 p.m. today, Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department personnel responded to CMC Recycling at 2706 Mynderse Avenue on a report that employees had discovered an approximately 5×5 steel box that contained suspected dynamite and was smoking.
KPD and KFD personnel closed Western Avenue between Texas Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue and immediately evacuated businesses in the immediate area.
KPD Bomb Squad technicians arrived at the scene and conducted an initial assessment of the box with the use of the drone. That assessment did not with complete certainty positively identify the contents of the box. However, based on that initial assessment and out of an abundance of caution, Bomb Squad technicians believe the box does contain explosives.
KPD and KFD officials have subsequently ordered an evacuation within an approximately 3,000-foot radius of the suspected explosives.
Efforts to evacuate the impacted area remain ongoing. Those efforts are being led by KPD and KFD with the assistance of Tennessee Highway Patrol deputies.
The Jacob Building has been established as an emergency shelter for residents who were ordered to evacuate.
Western Avenue remains closed between Pleasant Ridge Road and Massachusetts Avenue. The closure is expected to remain in place for an extended amount of time.
There is no evidence to suggest foul play or that the box was left on site maliciously. It is believed that employees were sorting through material when they discovered the box and attempted to open it. They called 9-1-1 immediately after seeing the contents.
Greene County, TN (WOKI) A woman is in stable condition and an investigation is underway following a shooting early Friday morning in Greene County.
Officials with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office say deputies responded to the 7000 block of Old Stage Road around 3:40 a.m. for a burglary call.
GCSO says “the caller stated that someone had entered his home and that he had gone to a neighbor’s house to call for help because his girlfriend was still inside.”
Police say not long after, a woman called from the home saying she had been shot twice. When deputies got inside, they reportedly found a 24-year-old who had been shot in the hand and back.
Officials say the woman was flown to Johnson City Medical Center where she is in stable condition.
No word yet on a suspect.
The woman was flown to Johnson City Medical Center and is stable, GCSO said. (Frankly Media)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / KPD) UPDATE 10/11 1:28 p.m.: Earlier this morning, an explosive ordnance robot was deployed to get a sample of the suspected explosives found inside of a box at CMC Recycling on Thursday afternoon.
The sample tested positive for ammonium nitrate, as confirmed by lab scientists at Quantico, which is consistent with dynamite.
Currently, Bomb Squad technicians are actively working to remove the dynamite from the box and safely dispose of it. In order to dispose of dynamite, technicians will methodically remove it from the box, douse the dynamite in diesel fuel, and burn it.
Those efforts are being supported by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Nashville Police Department Bomb Squads, including advanced MNPD robotic equipment.
It was initially reported that the box contained around 200 sticks of dynamite. Technicians have not yet verified how many pieces of dynamite are in the box.
There is no evidence to suggest that the box was left on the site maliciously or with criminal intent. CMC Recycling is a metal recycling facility that purchases material to be salvaged. The box, which was locked and unmarked, was on the site for at least several days. On Thursday, CMC Recycling was using a torch to salvage the box when they unintentionally set the box on fire and discovered the dynamite.
The box is no longer smoldering or emitting smoke.
The evacuation zone will remain in place until Bomb Squad technicians have completely disposed of the contents of the box and it is deemed safe to return to the area.
That work is expected to continue into tonight and potentially into tomorrow morning.
UPDATE: Knoxville, TN (WOKI / KPD) Residents within a 3,000-foot radius of suspected explosives that were found on Mynderse Avenue have been ordered to evacuate.
At around 2:15 p.m. today, Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department personnel responded to CMC Recycling at 2706 Mynderse Avenue on a report that employees had discovered an approximately 5×5 steel box that contained suspected dynamite and was smoking.
KPD and KFD personnel closed Western Avenue between Texas Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue and immediately evacuated businesses in the immediate area.
KPD Bomb Squad technicians arrived at the scene and conducted an initial assessment of the box with the use of the drone. That assessment did not with complete certainty positively identify the contents of the box. However, based on that initial assessment and out of an abundance of caution, Bomb Squad technicians believe the box does contain explosives.
KPD and KFD officials have subsequently ordered an evacuation within an approximately 3,000-foot radius of the suspected explosives.
Efforts to evacuate the impacted area remain ongoing. Those efforts are being led by KPD and KFD with the assistance of Tennessee Highway Patrol deputies.
The Jacob Building has been established as an emergency shelter for residents who were ordered to evacuate.
Western Avenue remains closed between Pleasant Ridge Road and Massachusetts Avenue. The closure is expected to remain in place for an extended amount of time.
There is no evidence to suggest foul play or that the box was left on site maliciously. It is believed that employees were sorting through material when they discovered the box and attempted to open it. They called 9-1-1 immediately after seeing the contents.
KPD spokesman Scott Erland says Western Avenue and the evacuation area will be closed through tomorrow (Friday), possibly tomorrow (Friday) night while crews work to secure the box. He says it is not a mandatory evacuation but they are counting on residents to abide by the evacuation request. Erland also says there are several businesses in the evacuation area so they are working to clear the area so they can re-open.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville, TN (WVLT / WOKI) UPDATE: The Knoxville Police Department and Knoxville Fire Department are on the scene of what could be a box of explosives near Western Avenue.
At this time, the situation is still extremely active. Those on the scene told WVLT News that KPD officers found the box on Mynderse Avenue, about 100 yards from the 2700 block of Western Avenue.
WVLT News also spoke with KPD Communications Manager Scott Erland, who said everyone on the scene is acting as if the box, which was at one point smoking, is explosive out of an abundance of caution.
An evacuation order came with the emergency response, which started around 2:15 p.m., Erland said. It covers a 3000 foot radius, more than half a mile, of the area.
“We’re going to take it slow and cautiously,” Erland said, adding that the response was likely to be a “prolonged event.”
The KPD spokesperson also said the department’s bomb squad had responded to the scene.
“At this point we really don’t know what we’re dealing with, just operating with the utmost caution,” Erland said.
In a later update, KFD and KPD said responders had sent an alert to people asking them to evacuate the area shown here. (Courtesy: KPD)
Due to the ongoing operations and evacuations on Western Avenue, the Knoxville Fire Department has decided to be proactive and cancel tonight’s KFD Night on the Square.
Officials say it’s regretful they canceling the event which offers Children’s Activities, a Fire Safety House, Equipment demos and much more.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is contacting property owners along state routes impacted by flooding to gain right-of-way access during the rebuilding process.
Officials say the form is not a scam as many property owners have expressed concern about the form’s legitimacy.
TDOT is contacting property owners to gain temporary right-of-entry access to repair and reconstruct impacted state routes in their existing location. They need permission to be on resident’s property as crews repair or rebuild roads.
If you own property along the highlighted State Routes impacted by Helene, TDOT needs to speak with you.
Property owners can contact TDOT by emailing [email protected] or by calling 833-TDOTFIX (836-8349) and following the voice prompts.
Some roads in downtown Knoxville will close to traffic on the weekends through the end of the year.
It’s part of an ongoing effort by the City of Knoxville to make the downtown area more friendly to pedestrians. The city says it will be closing Market Street between Clinch Avenue and Union Avenue and Union Avenue between Walnut and Gay Street on weekends.
The closures are expected to go from Fridays at 6 p.m. to Sundays at 6 p.m. The only exception being this weekend when road closures will start Saturday.
Unicoi County, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Department of Transportation today Thursday reopened a section of I-26 in Unicoi County closed previously due to flooding from Hurricane Helene.
TDOT officials say the roadway is open from the Tennessee/North Carolina state line to Exit 40 in Erwin, Tennessee for local traffic and deliveries only. Officials stress that the interstate is not open to commercial vehicles or thru-traffic.
They add that local law enforcement will be on the road to enforce the restrictions.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, all roads in western North Carolina should still be considered closed due to the widespread damage.
In addition, TDOT says drivers should use extreme caution along the Nolichucky River corridor while crews continue assessing local roads, and State Route 36 remains impassable in Unicoi County.
I-26 in Unicoi County reopens after Helene flooding, TDOT says. (Pexels)
Knoxville, Tenn. – The Knox County Health Department will offer free flu shots at four locations as a part of the Tennessee Department of Health’s Fight Flu TN Day. Fight Flu TN will take place on Oct. 15 with select locations across the state offering free flu shots.
KCHD will offer the vaccines at the following locations:
Knox County Health Department
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
140 Dameron Ave
Sarah Simpson Professional Development Technology Center
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
801 Tipton Ave (in the Great Room)
Sarah Moore Greene Elementary
4:30 – 7 p.m.
3001 Brooks Ave
Lonsdale Elementary
4:30 – 7 p.m.
1505 Louisiana Ave
The clinics are open to the public. KCHD will vaccinate insured and uninsured adults and children at no cost to the patient. No appointments are needed.
NOTE FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS – Be aware that, while having your voter registration card is helpful to speed up the early voting process, you do not need it to vote. However, all voters must present a photo identification issued by the State of Tennessee (such as a Tennessee Driver’s License) or the Federal Government (such as a passport).
