Explosions rock bomb recycling plant

Friday, August 25, 2006 DOYLINE, La. (AP) — More than 10 explosions rocked a bomb recycling plant in northwestern Louisiana on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of an entire town and more than 400 prisoners from a nearby jail, authorities said. No injuries or deaths were reported. A fire at the Explo Systems Inc. site at the Louisiana Army National Guard's Camp Minden triggered a major explosion involving two military bombs about 8:30 a.m., state police said. In the ensuing hours, more than 10 explosions — some intense, some minor — went off inside the plant as the fire continued to burn and thick smoke billowed from the plant, authorities said. By late afternoon, the main fire had burned itself out, but authorities were monitoring small hot spots as a hazardous materials survey team examined the damage. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.