# LAPD bomb truck fireworks explosion: what went wrong?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 6, 2021, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806 "2021-07-06T10:02:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806/61 "2021-07-20T03:25:11Z")

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It was described as flash powder. Similar to photoflash powder used in olden days to take flash photography of bomb damage. The material doesn’t burn/deflagrate; it always detonates. Its classification for military purposes is a high explosive unlike black powder and similar which burn on the surface.

So, 42lbs. of high explosives, not really fireworks though a great flash producer.

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**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806/62 "2021-07-20T04:11:14Z")

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Way back when, I bought some flash powder and black powder and booby trapped an ashtray. When it didn’t trigger the way I thought it would have, I forgot about it until it went off about an hour later. The results of a small pack of flash powder bought at a magic shop and a dozen grains of black powder was enough to blow cig butts into the next room. That was an uncontained reaction, I am willing to bet that if I had done it in a soup can, metal shards would have flown.

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806/63 "2021-07-20T23:46:41Z")

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Armchair-quarterbacking this, after a break from the news and the SDMB, but with a little practical experience on my side: **no**. I would not simply place a detonator in a package of black powder and hope for success. I would use a booster charge, which, normally would have been a bit of C-4. Detasheet might work in a pinch, but “C” is plentiful, and IMHO, a little easier to handle, cut, and shape.

Flash powder, too, is a little too “loose” of a powder, that I’d want to throw some more heat/shock/friction into the mix to make sure it is a quick, clean, and efficient detonation.

Tripler  
I ❤ C-4.

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**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806/64 "2021-07-21T18:07:43Z")

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I was wondering what happened to the Illudium Q36 I lost.

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**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806/65 "2021-07-21T23:09:40Z")

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Well, okay, but at least it did go “kaboom.”

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