San Diego declared disaster area due to bombs

[Liberty Belle]

Authorities seek waiver of state's environmental laws to burn down an Escondido house with biggest stash of explosives, chemicals ever found on U.S. soil. Prosecutors described the home as a "bomb factory" filled with plastic explosives used by terrorists:
http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/4906

I'm looking for experts to interview. How dangerous is this for area residents? how far out does the health hazard zone extend? What are the long-term risks to neighbors? Who's liable for damage to neighbors' properties? Should people with asthma or chemical sensitivities leave the area when this occurs?

Still no word on whether this guy, a Serbian immigrant who made frequent trips to Mexico, was working with terrorists or drug cartels.

[Poll_Blind]

1. This is odd. They're going to burn what they KNOW is a house filled with explosive, toxic material.

Some of which has yet to still be identified. I find it cold comfort that at least, neighbors are assured "It's not radioactive."

Well, I guess mercury isn't radioactive but I wouldn't want someone burning a toxic house soaked in it (for instance).

Who the fuck are these clowns? Are these the same folks who thought it would be a good idea to blow up a beached whale?

Cause this is probably going to cause waaay worse problems than that.

BTW, how sweet are "Emergency Powers" which allow you to do shit like that?

:sarcasm:

PB

[Liberty Belle]

2. Maybe they found biological weapons, a poster in another thread

on this has suggested. Those can only be destroyed by burning them, apparently.

I would sure hate to live downwind of this.

[Poll_Blind]

3. That's not quite how it works- burn yes, but not burn like that. It could make it far worse.

Some agents can be incinerated but we're talking about...look, nobody gets rid of nerve gas cannisters by, ya know, tossing them into a fire barrel.

Yes, they're incinerated but in a controlled environment.

With that much air moving through the structure if there are biological agents they would almost certianly survive and be propagated by the chimney effect of the heat.

Whoever wants to burn this shit so quick is making a bad move- that other people are going to have to pick up the pieces of.

Best thing to do with people like that is not let them do the stupid thing in the first place.

PB

[MrsCorleone]

6. This county is under Republican leadership, so I wouldn't rule out stupid.

When there are problems to be solved in San Diego, expect the most illogical of solutions.

This looks like either Issa or Bilbray's district, for those interested.

[Liberty Belle]

7. Residents should talk to Barbara Boxer, who chairs the Environmental Committee

in the Senate. Maybe she could apply some pressure to assure that people's health is not put at risk.

[drm604]

4. It looks like there are lots of homes in the area.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&q=1954+Via+Scott,+Escondido,+San+Diego,+California+92026&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.726391,67.763672&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FaHd-QEdTh0F-Q&split=0&hq=&hnear=1954+Via+Scott,+Escondido,+San+Diego,+California+92026&t=h&ll=33.152418,-117.105331&spn=0.002371,0.004136&z=18

[slackmaster]

9. Typical suburban sprawl, and not as dense as many areas

I didn't know the house was that close to the freeway. I-15 is a very heavily travelled route during rush hours.

[MagickMuffin]

5. Those are ALL very good questions

I read about this a few days ago and was wondering what the Authorities were going to do about it. At the time they hadn't made any decisions except to not do anything at all. And the only way the Authorities found out about it was a gardener step on spilled explosive material in the home’s backyard.

I know I'd be pissed if I lived in the surrounding area.

[slackmaster]

8. Unrec for misleading headline. The house in question is miles away from San Diego's northern edge.

It's in an unincorporated area west of Escondido, in northern San Diego County. It's not a Superfund site - Several pounds of dangerous explosives were removed, and some chemicals. Only a small portion of one neighborhood is affected.

I live in San Diego. Life is going on as normal here.