PLEASANTON — Firefighters battling a residential fire Saturday morning had to deal with exploding ammunition inside a shed, but no injuries were reported, officials said Monday.
The fire was reported about 2:30 a.m. Saturday at a home in the 800 block of Abbie Street, according to the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.
Battalion Chief Craig LaRont said the fire was on the side of a house, burning a shed, car, carport awning, 30-foot fence and the exterior of the home.
LaRont said it turned out a large amount of ammunition for a variety of firearms was stored inside the shed and that some of it began exploding. He estimated it to be thousands of rounds, most of it in ammunition boxes.
LaRont said firefighters did not know about the ammunition until about halfway through fighting the fire. They then took precautions and used larger hose lines to cool down the shed and stop the explosions.
How much actually exploded during the fire was not known, but casings and slugs were found on adjacent properties, officials said.
Neighbors said they first thought someone was setting off fireworks.
LaRont said officials were told the resident purchases ammunition at estate sales and auctions and resells it. The resident could not immediately be reached for comment.
The house suffered minor damage including two broken windows. There was no damage to neighboring homes.
Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately two hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Source: www.mercurynews.com