# "Bomb Factory" house too dangerous to clear -- will be burned down **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160 "2010-12-06T16:43:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/1 "2010-12-06T16:43:05Z")
[This](http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_1c1fe1ca-e5f9-5d4f-a809-985dfa052940.html?mode=story) is so many kinds of awesome. California authorities indicted an Escondido man for building bombs in his home, and apparently his house is so loaded with explosives that they have decided that the safest course of action is just to burn it down. Yes, you read that right. They [found](http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2010/12/03/officials-on-house-full-of-explosives-lets-set-it-on-fire/) the following items in his house before retreating: > [@](#): > > » 9-12 pounds (4-6 Kg) of homemade HMTD, PETN, and ETN (which authorities claim may be the largest discovery of its type on US soil…) > » 13 grenades > » 9 detonators > » bags of metal pieces and ball bearings > » semiautomatic weapons > » several gallons of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid > » 50 pounds (23 Kg) of hexamine > » books about explosives > » a tracker hidden in currency during bank robberies And now they’re going to set it on fire. The state is building a thick wall around the place, evacuating 200 homes, and closing a section of a nearby interstate highway. Pitures from inside the house [here](http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_79416636-ad8d-53b2-a259-e0493f8541cb.html?mode=story). I can totally understand not wanting to poke around in there. He’s a hoarder, and any particular piece of junk could blow up in your face. Still, doesn’t burning it raise the possibility of unleashing a giant toxic fireball? And how thoroughly would it have to be burned for the property to then be safe, without fear of unexploded ordnance? And will this be televised? (Apologies in advance for my flippant tone, in case anyone gets injured. I understand the seriousness of this matter. But it’s just so outlandish.) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/2 "2010-12-06T16:46:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Still, doesn’t burning it raise the possibility of unleashing a giant toxic fireball? from what I understand, those types of explosives won’t actually “detonate” without some sort of explosive primer. if you set them on fire, they’ll just burn. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/3 "2010-12-06T17:05:15Z")
I haven’t been following the [story](http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=13596968), but apparently a few weeks ago authorities discovered the largest cache of homemade explosives in US history. [It’s too dangerous to clear out, so they’re going to burn it down.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101206/ap_on_re_us/us_explosive_house) Apparently, the house is really messed up to the point where they can’t get robots inside to clear it. Think a hoarder house, but with explosives. I hope they broadcast the destruction! How do they do a controlled destruction of a single story house? I know they place explosives at stress points in large buildings to bring it down, and I know that typically they bring in bulldozers for small buildings. Are they planning on just tossing a stick of dynamite in there and running? How would they know they got all of it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/4 "2010-12-06T17:13:26Z")
Love this remark from the defense attorney. > [@](#): > > Defense attorney Michael Berg, who will represent Jakubec in the federal case, surmised Friday the case was moved into federal court so authorities could pursue a harsher sentence. > > “At a quick reading of the indictment, it appears that the charges might be overblown,” Berg said. Might want to read a little slower. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/5 "2010-12-06T17:14:06Z")
Merged duplicate threads. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/6 "2010-12-06T17:18:04Z")
> [@nctimes.com](#): > > The indictment comes as authorities work to neutralize the danger of the materials found in Jakubec’s **rented home**. (bolding mine) If Jakubec was just renting the home where are the homeowners? How do they feel about their property being destroyed? I wonder why more hasn’t been said about that. Or am I mis-reading the above statement? Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/7 "2010-12-06T17:22:53Z")
Well, hm. Blow the place up and haul the rubble away, collect insurance, build a new place vs sending people in and they die in a big kaboom … I will deal with the place being burned down and rebuilding … I would not want any deaths on my conscience if they can at all be avoided. Maybe see if we can film it and charge people to see it to make some money to help the rebuild? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/8 "2010-12-06T17:32:55Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Well, hm. Blow the place up and haul the rubble away, collect insurance, build a new place vs sending people in and they die in a big kaboom … Bets on the insurance company denying the claim? Usually, there’s a clause about the premises being used for illegal activities. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/9 "2010-12-06T17:44:43Z")
I wonder about the gardener, the one mentioned in the article that unwittingly detonated an explosive. Was the man hurt or not? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/10 "2010-12-06T17:56:01Z")
What were the bombs for? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/11 "2010-12-06T18:01:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What were the bombs for? Blowing things up. But that’s not important right now. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/12 "2010-12-06T18:02:52Z")
By the way, from the pictures of the house I wouldn’t say he was a hoarder, just a very disorganized _hobbyist_. I could see my home becoming like that if I didn’t clean up as I carry on with my projects for 5 or 6 months. Ehhh… by projects I mean electronics, mechanical gizmos, model airplanes, etc, etc. No bombs! I swear! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/13 "2010-12-06T18:07:12Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Blowing things up. But that’s not important right now. Clearly, the rumours of Leslie Nielsen’s death were greatly exaggerated…he’s alive and well, posting on the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/14 "2010-12-06T18:10:41Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Love this remark from the defense attorney. > > > [@](#): > > > > Defense attorney Michael Berg, who will represent Jakubec in the federal case, surmised Friday the case was moved into federal court so authorities could pursue a harsher sentence. > > > > “At a quick reading of the indictment, it appears that the charges might be **overblown** ,” Berg said. > > Might want to read a little slower. :rolleyes: (empahsis mine)… and rethink his choice of words… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/15 "2010-12-06T18:25:05Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > from what I understand, those types of explosives won’t actually “detonate” without some sort of explosive primer. if you set them on fire, they’ll just burn. > [@aruvqan](#): > > Well, hm. Blow the place up and haul the rubble away, collect insurance, build a new place vs sending people in and they die in a big kaboom … “Where’s the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!” ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/16 "2010-12-06T18:44:22Z")
What if they set off a blasting cap? Fireworks? A sealed container of, well, anything? What if the huge fucking containers of acid break or melt and mix with something they shouldn’t? What if like a 100 other really bad things happen? Is this really the best they can do? It’s all gonna end in tears. Tears of pain from getting vaporized hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acids in your eyes. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/17 "2010-12-06T18:51:03Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > What if they set off a blasting cap? Fireworks? A sealed container of, well, anything? What if the huge fucking containers of acid break or melt and mix with something they shouldn’t? What if like a 100 other really bad things happen? Is this really the best they can do? It’s all gonna end in tears. Tears of pain from getting vaporized hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acids in your eyes. That’s why they’re evacuating before the fire. One of the explosives mentioned is highly sensitive ti friction and could be set off while trying to clear the house. It’s far too dangerous to try to haul all that stuff out and transport. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/18 "2010-12-06T18:54:33Z")
This thread is crying out for **Tripler** to comment on. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/19 "2010-12-06T19:11:51Z")
I’m sure they’ve thought of this already but fire won’t set off the explosives right? > [@GESancMan](#): > > “Where’s the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160/20 "2010-12-06T19:40:54Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > What if they set off a blasting cap? Fireworks? A sealed container of, well, anything? What if the huge fucking containers of acid break or melt and mix with something they shouldn’t? What if like a 100 other really bad things happen? Is this really the best they can do? It’s all gonna end in tears. Tears of pain from getting vaporized hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acids in your eyes. Nice username/post combination. 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bomb-factory-house-too-dangerous-to-clear-will-be-burned-down/563160.md?page=2)