PORT HADLOCK — A bomb detonated at a residence in Port Hadlock blew off the suspected maker’s arm and injured his 6-year-old granddaughter.
The unidentified 46-year-old Port Hadlock man’s left arm was amputated in the Tuesday night explosion in an outbuilding on the property in the area of the 700 block of Ness Corner Road. He also suffered chest injuries, and his granddaughter sustained burns to her head, said Sgt. Brett Anglin of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The man was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Tuesday night. As of 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, he was in critical condition at the hospital, Anglin said.
The girl suffered superficial burns to her face and was treated and discharged from Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend, Anglin said Wednesday afternoon.
The man’s name will not be released by officials until the investigation is complete, and that isn’t expected to be until next week, Anglin said.
The blasts completely destroyed the outbuilding and damaged nearby trees. It was unknown as of Wednesday if they were caused by one bomb or several.
Detectives found evidence of manufacturing explosives such as handmade pipe bombs and improvised explosive devices within the outbuilding, Anglin said. At least three different explosive devices were found, but it wasn’t known as of Wednesday if they were charged or not.
Detectives expect to forward charges to the Jefferson County prosecutor’s office upon completing the investigation, Anglin said.
Potential charges include manufacturing explosives and arson, with the arson charge stemming from that fact that someone else — the man’s granddaughter — was injured as a result of the explosions, Anglin said.
Dispatchers began receiving calls at about 9:40 p.m. Tuesday that reported loud explosions, people screaming and flames and smoke.
While en route, deputies received another report of a man with a chest injury and fully amputated left arm.
Deputies and fire department officials found an outbuilding fully engulfed in flames, and the fire was spreading to nearby trees, Anglin said.
A deputy who is also an emergency medical technician (EMT) helped the man, who was bleeding from wounds he suffered in the blast. The deputy also helped the child.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the property and responded with members of the FBI and the State Patrol bomb squad.
The fire was knocked down at 10:08 p.m. and was completely under control at 10:33 p.m., Anglin said.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
Officials with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol and the FBI investigate the site of an explosion in Port Hadlock on Tuesday night. The explosion reportedly blew off a man’s arm and burned his 6-year-old granddaughter. The blast and subsequent fire destroyed an outbuilding and damaged the trees and grass around it. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
A suspected pipe bomb and other improvised explosives were found at the site of an explosion in Port Hadlock Tuesday night. The blast blew off a man’s arm and burned his granddaughter. (Photo courtesy of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)