A homeowner in Valley Glen found 20 active dynamite sticks inside a freezer in her garage, prompting an urgent response from the LAPD and bomb technicians. The explosives, estimated at 10–15 pounds, were desensitized with diesel and moved in a total containment vessel. Officials established a 500-foot evacuation zone affecting about 32 residents; investigators found no fuses or blasting caps and are treating the items as lost/found property while they try to determine their origin.
20 Active Dynamite Sticks Found in Valley Glen Freezer, Prompting Evacuations
Her husband died several years ago.
A routine cleaning turned into a major safety incident Wednesday when a Valley Glen homeowner discovered 20 sticks of active dynamite hidden inside a freezer in her garage, triggering neighborhood evacuations and street closures.
Evacuations were issued for residents in a Valley Glen neighborhood on Wednesday.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded at about 9 a.m. to the 6100 block of Rhodes Avenue after the woman reported the discovery. She told investigators she did not know where the explosives came from or who might have left them; she and her late husband had purchased the refrigerator when they bought the home years earlier.
Dynamite stick mystery forces evacuations in LA neighborhood.
Bomb technicians confirm explosives active. Specialized LAPD bomb technicians determined the dynamite was still active. The cache was estimated to weigh about 10 to 15 pounds. As a safety measure, technicians soaked the sticks in diesel fuel — a standard desensitizing method — before placing them in a total containment vessel for transport to an undisclosed location.
LAPD spoke to KTLA. KTLA
Authorities established a 500-foot evacuation perimeter and conducted door-to-door notifications. An estimated 32 residents were evacuated; another 22 chose to remain inside their homes. Several nearby streets were closed while teams worked to secure and remove the explosives.
A criminal investigation is underway. KTLA
Investigators did not find any fuses or blasting caps at the scene. Capt. Warner Castillo of the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division noted the sticks appeared somewhat wet, but it was unclear whether that moisture reflected instability in the material or was simply from melting ice inside the thawing appliance.
The LAPD said the items are being handled as lost or found property while authorities try to determine their origin. The department is not pursuing a criminal investigation at this time. Officials reminded the public that dynamite can be legally obtained for certain construction or industrial uses, but its purchase and possession require permits and licenses and it is not available for casual retail sale.
Police warned that an accidental detonation could have caused severe damage to the surrounding area. At the time of the report, the LAPD had no further updates.
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