What began as a massive lightning-caused fire Thursday night has turned into a criminal investigation after military-grade ordnance was found in the rubble Friday, reports CBS5 Phoenix.
Phoenix police say they removed two live munitions and sent them to Luke Air Force Base for testing. A third live device exploded during last night’s fire.
Investigators say it appears a person may have purchased the cases from a military surplus and may not have known three actually contained live munitions.
Luke Air Force Base munitions experts were called in to help with the investigation and to inspect some of the ordnance.
Police closed the west Phoenix industrial area from 35th to 40th Avenues and from Indian School Road to Clarendon through at least Saturday afternoon as federal, state and local investigators try to figure out who was storing these devices.
“If you consider the fact there was an explosion last night and that explosion came from any part of the ordnance, then there were hundreds of first-responders out here, firefighters, medical personnel, law enforcement that were in immediate danger and they didn’t know it because they were dealing with the blaze,” Phoenix Police Officer James Holmes said.
Fire officials said at least six businesses were damaged in the fire but would not identify the business in which the munitions were found.
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