Lousiana State Police Say Explosives Improperly Stored at Camp Minden

State police and Webster Parish sheriff’s deputies are at the Camp Minden industrial site in northwest Louisiana, trying to determine how to secure thousands of pounds of explosive powder that officials say were improperly housed by a company there.

Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton said Tuesday that initial estimates are up to a million pounds of explosive materials are on site, which is within one mile of the parish prison and a school.

Sexton says he is waiting for a full assessment of the site before determining whether to evacuate the area.

Col. Mike Edmonson, head of the Louisiana State Police, says his investigators found the improperly stored explosives during an inspection of property leased by Explo Systems Inc.

Explo Systems officials didn’t immediately answer phone calls Tuesday.