Propane Tank Bomb Found Near Power Plant

An employee for Transalta Power Plant found the propane tank with green and yellow wires coming out of it along a set of access tracks leading to the plant five miles northeast of Centralia.

The employee picked it up, put it on his flat bed truck and drove it back to his supervisor who then called 911.

I would like to add here that this is not something you should do, EVER. If you find something like this please call 911 immediately. Never attempt to move any device which appears to be a bomb or an unknown suspicious package.

The sheriff's office says the wires appear to be similar to those used in electrical blasting caps.

A Washington State Patrol bomb squad was called in and the blasting cap was removed. The state patrol said it had been activated, but for some reason, the powder inside had not detonated.

Train cars bring coal to the plant for processing. Transalta managers say they have not received any threats, so who is responsible is a mystery.

Sheriff Steve Mansfield says besides the obvious damage and deaths that could have occurred had the bomb gone off, there is another thing that concerns him about what happened Wednesday.

"People often unknowingly and with good intentions pick up suspicious objects which should only be handled by trained professionals," said Mansfield. "A device such as this, made of common material like a propane tank is extremely dangerous and can deliver an incredible amount of destructive power for its size."

Mansfield says if you run across a suspicious looking device, stay away from it and call 911.

The Department of Homeland Security has been asked to investigate.

Source with Video and Photo of device