(Cushing)- The Highway Patrol Bomb squad has removed what was believed to be unexploded ordnance from the old National Guard Armory building. But it turns out, the “explosives” were actually simulated devices used by the National Guard to train guard personnel. Lt. Col Max Moss contacted KUSH to set the record straight. Moss tells KUSH that after testing by the Highway Patrol, it was determined that what had been believed to be TNT was in fact flour and baking powder.
“I can understand why everybody took precautions, and everybody took the right action, but there was no actual danger, Moss said.
The Bomb Squad arrived about 1:45 Thursday afternoon after being contacted by Cushing Police, who had been called by a worker who is working on lead paint mitigation at the building.
The worker discovered boxes that were marked as “TNT” and contacted police. Cushing Police cordoned off the property, and blocked 2nd street from Little eastward to Hough street. No homes were evacuated, although police did contact residents in the area.
Cushing Fire Chief Brent Kerr told KUSH that the explosives were likely not a danger, and would have required a detonator in order to explode, but said the construction worker had done the right thing by contacting police.
The State of Oklahoma currently owns the building, but is preparing to hand it over to the City, and an Oklahoma City Company has been hired to do lead paint and asbestos mitigaiton on the building.
