Updated Wednesday at 5 p.m.
An explosive device was found near Mile 25 of the Haines Highway this week, the second explosive device found in the area in a month.
Haines police reported that a community member reported a suspected “improvised explosive device” in the area Tuesday. That prompted the police to call in Juneau Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation’s bomb squad to evaluate the explosive. On Friday morning, a group of law enforcement, local firefighters and bomb technicians traveled to the area where the bomb was found and ultimately detonated it about 2 p.m., according to the release.
Police Sergeant Maxwell Jusi coordinated the local response. He wrote in an email that the device was found a few miles away from one found in late July.
“Same watershed, but different locations,” he wrote.
Given when the device was found and when it was detonated, the Chilkat Valley News asked about the safety of the location. Jusi wrote that the device “remained undisturbed,” while local law enforcement coordinated with other agencies that had the specialized personnel and equipment to handle it and they could make a plan to dispose of it.
Based on the information they have now, Jusi wrote that police do not believe there’s any ongoing threat.
But, he asked people to report any suspected hazardous items or explosives. He said to avoid handling it, keep a safe distance and call in emergency responders immediately.
“We want to remind the public that it is illegal to manufacture or possess improvised explosive devices,” he wrote.
In late July, a Haines couple found a device in the Klehini River flats and called it in after realizing that it could be a bomb.
That device contained a detonation cord, a highly regulated item that requires a federal license to possess. While law enforcement agencies coordinated to dispose of the device, confusion arose around who would be ultimately responsible for investigating how the device had arrived in the area.
Police Chief Jimmy Yoakum said at the time that Haines law enforcement do not have the resources to conduct that kind of investigation. On July 31, he said the FBI was handling the investigation and follow-up. An FBI spokesperson said the agency has an internal policy of not confirming whether they are investigating any particular incident.
In an email after the second device was found, Jusi did not confirm whether any specific organization is investigating just that “generally speaking the investigation is ongoing.” He encouraged anyone with more information to contact the Haines police.
In his media release, Jusi wrote that anyone with information on the incident can call borough police at 907-766-2121, or that information could be reported to the FBI Anchorage Field office anonymously by telephone at 907-276-4441 or online at tips.fbi.gov.