A highly explosive chemical and radioactive substances were discovered at a late chemist’s house in Lexington, Massachusetts, leading to a complex removal operation by the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad.

Removal Operation

A hazmat team and an FBI bomb technician were also part of the response, which was prompted by a clean-out of the home on Longfellow Road. The materials found included dozens of bottles of powders, liquids, and solids, including the highly explosive chemical picric acid and fire hazards.

Police and firefighters secured the area around the home while hazmat and bomb technicians entered and carefully searched it, organizing the materials and removing them to a truck filled with sand over about seven hours. An ambulance and firefighters with a charged hose were on standby, just in case.

Lexington Fire Chief Derek Sencabaugh stated that the materials could not be left in place and had to be carefully and methodically removed for safe disposal, with the priority being the safety of community residents and first responders.

Disposal and Investigation

The radioactive material was taken away by a licensed contractor to be disposed of, and the other substances were taken to a remote place for destruction, which took place without incident. The hazardous materials were not connected to criminal activity, and the home was not occupied following the chemist’s death.

State Fire Marshal Jon Davine described the situation as a complex version of a typical scenario, where family members of a veteran find military ordnance after they die. He noted that the mission required patience, precision, and a high degree of technical skill.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.