CONCORD — On Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, Concord police and firefighters responded to a home on Deacon Hayes Road after a resident reported a large quantity of old, degraded explosive powders.
Concord Police Chief Thomas Mulcahy and Fire Chief Brian Whitney said first responders confirmed the hazard and requested assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Bomb technicians found dozens of canisters containing about 40 pounds of smokeless powder and other propellants. The materials had been legally kept for reloading ammunition but were no longer needed. The resident contacted authorities out of concern about the materials’ safety.
“Bomb technicians safely packaged the materials, removed them from the home and transported them to the Concord Compost Site,” Police Chief Mulcahy and Fire Chief Whitney said in a joint statement. “Once at the site, they carefully emptied the canisters in an open area free of any debris, dead vegetation, or other combustible items.”
Following a safety briefing for all personnel at the site, bomb technicians used a remote ignition device to safely and permanently dispose of the materials in a controlled burn.
The crew of Concord Fire Engine 4 then wet down the area to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.
