Evacuations urged after ‘possible explosives’ found near Western Avenue

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville Fire Department has shared that Western Avenue between Texas Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue is closed due to the discovery of “suspected explosive materials” and the public is strongly urged to evacuate the area.

At around 2:15 p.m. on October 10, Knoxville Police Department and KFD responded to CMC Recycling at 2706 Mynderse Avenue after employees discovered “an approximately 5×5 steel box that contained suspected dynamite and was smoking.”

Officials are strongly urging people within a 3,000-foot radius of the suspected explosives to evacuate. KFD spokesperson Mark Wilbanks estimated that over 1,000 people had already evacuated the area as of 7 p.m. Thursday.

KPD spokesperson Scott Erland said they are operating under the assumption that the box contains explosives but haven’t been able to confirm the presence of explosive material because smoke is coming from the box.

The bomb squad is currently monitoring the situation as they do not wish to aggravate the situation until the area is evacuated. Erland said the evacuation recommendation and road closures could extend into Friday evening.

“In the strongest words, we can not encourage people enough to stay out of this area,” Erland said.

Erland said that they consulted with the FBI and ATF, who recommended that the precautions remain in place at this time. Officials added there is no evidence to suggest the box was purposefully left on site with malicious intent.

“What most likely is the situation is that that box was brought down there closed. Nobody knew what was in it and when they went to open it, that’s what they found,” Wilbanks said.

An emergency shelter has been established at the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park, which is located at 3301 E Magnolia Ave. Knoxville Area Transit and American Medical Response are helping to take people from the area and anyone in need of transportation is asked to call 865-215-4010 .

“Due to the ongoing investigation into a suspected explosive device on Mynderse Avenue, KPD and KFD personnel are urging residents to evacuate from inside the pictured zone. A public safety message has been sent through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System to people inside the impacted area,” wrote KFD.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated.

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