The Missouri Department of Natural Resources partnered with the Highway Patrol's Bomb Squad this week to conduct training.

The department’s Environmental Emergency Response team trains on various aspects of hazardous materials incidents, specifically related to protecting the public’s safety and the environment. According to the DNR, the training is held 3 times a year.

Staff members relied upon multiple field instruments to help identify various potentially explosive substances. Master Sergeant Kevin Hunter, of the patrol’s Bomb Squad, oversaw the training. After substance identification, Highway Patrol Troopers detonated multiple explosives to demonstrate how the color of smoke produced during an explosion can help responders identify the explosive materials used in bombings.

In cases of explosive threats, depending on what is identified, the department may ask the Bomb Squad to be a part of an investigation. If a substance is ultimately determined too unstable to safely transport and dispose, the DNR says technicians with the patrol's Bomb Squad may be requested to safely detonate the material.

Randy Kirby
Randy Kirby
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