Explosives detonated, removed from home

NEDERLAND» Over the past week, local and federal investigators have been detonating home explosives and incendiary devices found at a home on Alpine Drive.

An initial explosion on July 3 injured a resident of the home who is recovering in a hospital. He is the “responsible party,” Mayor Kristopher Larsen said. Police have yet to announce information about whether they are investigating the resident or anyone else as suspects of a potential crime.

When first responders went into the home, they found the explosives and incendiaries, Larsen said. The Boulder County Regional Bomb Squad, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI became involved.

They were all homemade devices, Larsen said, and were not connected to a marijuana hash oil production process, which was an initial fear.

“A lot of those were unstable, and it was determined we did not want to remove them and did not want to drive them down the canyon,” Larsen said.

Throughout the week, investigators detonated some devices at the home, and officials since came up with a plan to move the remaining materials to a public works facility at 500 Ridge Road, where they were detonated.

The move was to give residents of the Big Springs neighborhood a break from the explosions that had been occurring throughout the week in the Big Springs area, which were clearly audible to nearby residents.

“It shook my house down the road probably a half mile away from it,” Larsen said. “It was time to move it away. We have no concerns about moving this material across town. … The word we’re getting is the majority of the materials have been removed. We do not anticipate removals today that will require detonations.”

He was unable to provide specific details on the types of materials that have been discovered and detonated. The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.