The Consolidated Bomb Squad is reminding the public about safe and legal ways to dispose of hazardous explosive materials.
Residents sometimes encounter items such as illegal fireworks, old or unwanted ammunition, blasting caps, or other explosive devices. In many cases, these materials are discovered when working in and around former mining communities or when cleaning out a loved one’s property who may have been a collector of military or mining items. These items can be unstable and extremely dangerous, even if they appear old, damaged, or inactive.
Residents are urged:
- Do not dispose of these items in household trash or recycling.
- Do not handle or transport suspicious or unknown explosive items yourself.
- Call Non-Emergency Dispatch to report the item. Trained technicians will respond to assess, safely remove, and dispose of it.
- Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Dispatch (775) 785-WCSO(9276)
- Reno Police Department Non-Emergency Dispatch at (775) 334-2677
- Sparks Police Department Non-Emergency Dispatch at (775) 353-2231
- If you discover items during property clean-outs, construction, or while exploring rural areas, stop work immediately and move to a safe distance before calling law enforcement.
The improper disposal or storage causing leaks/spills of hazardous explosive materials poses a significant threat to human health and safety. Proper disposal helps prevent accidental injuries, environmental contamination, and the spread of hazardous substances that could harm people, animals, or property.
The Consolidated Bomb Squad is comprised of members from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Reno Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations and Sparks Police Department, serving Washoe County and surrounding areas, including parts of California. The bomb squads’ responsibilities include the ability to build, dismantle, render safe, mitigate or dispose of everything from detreating explosives to improvised explosive devices and anything in between that may pose an explosive risk or hazard to the public. As part of the Northern Nevada Bomb Technicians Federal Task Force, they provide expert support for special events, explosive incidents and investigations both state and nationwide.
