Explosives removal triggers Bridgeport evacuation order

BRIDGEPORT – An evacuation order was issued for a portion of the City of Bridgeport Tuesday afternoon, August 15, while personnel from the U.S. Army’s 53rd Ordinance Company (EOD) removed some explosives from the area. The order advised residents living with 400 yards of the 900 block of Foster Avenue near Fireman Park to shelter in place or evacuate to the Bridgeport High School gym.

 Units of the Douglas County Sherriff’s Office, and the Douglas-Okanogan Fire District 15, were on hand to control traffic and block access to the area while the explosives were removed.

Contacted at the scene, Douglas County Sheriff Kevin Morris said the explosive in question was probably some old dynamite or similar material and his office would issue an official media release with more details after the operation was concluded.

First Lt. Reese of the EOD said his unit drove for about 2.5 hours from Yakima earlier in the day to perform the explosives removal.