SALT LAKE CITY -- A loud boom, followed by flames leaping into the air, ended an hourlong demonstration of the havoc common household chemicals and materials can cause.
"What I'm taking away from this is that everyday chemicals in the wrong hands for the wrong purpose can cause a lot of damage," said Layton Fire Chief Kevin Ward.
The "pillar of fire" was created by four wooden tripods holding empty plastic milk jugs with detonating cords wrapped around them. Under each milk jug was a gallon of gasoline. It was the last and most dramatic demonstration of the day.
Ward, along with members of other of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, attended a demonstration of more than a dozen examples of improvised explosive and incendiary mixtures at the Salt Lake City Airport Police Training Center.
The event was part of a three-day National Improvised Explosives Familiarization training course, hosted by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Also in attendance were business owners who sell the household chemicals.
"We'd be foolish to think this problem isn't out there," said Don Sachtleben, retired FBI Special Agent bomb technician/consultant. "We want to reach teachers. We SClBwant to reach parents. We want to reach the general public."
Ken Porter, acting special agent in charge at the FBI Salt Lake Field Office, said the biggest terrorist threat the country is facing is improvised explosive devices, which are made from common chemicals found in neighborhood stores, auto parts stores, hardware stores and beauty supply shops.
Teenagers and adults can find with a click on the Internet which chemicals can be used to create a smoke bomb or a bang that causes destruction, Sachtleben said. The explosives have been around for decades, but it's the accessibility of how to make the destructive devices that is relatively new.
"We want parents to be aware of what is in their kids' rooms, their garages and their basements," he said. "We're not going to arrest a bunch of kids who are fooling around -- we just want them to stop and realize how dangerous this is."
The demonstration began with a simple mixture of chlorine, used to clean swimming pools, combined with brake fluid. At first it didn't look like much, but after 10 minutes it began to bubble and then a nasty-smelling smoke billowed.
Next, a sharp bang that sounded like a pistol shot destroyed a coffee can rigged with a blasting cap.Another blasting cap, detonated remotely, splintered a block of wood in seconds.
And just for fun, Sachtleben blew a melon apart with another blasting cap. Then the demonstrations stepped up.
First, the team detonated fertilizer mixed with another chemical, followed by other chemical mixtures. Then TNT and plastic explosives were detonated to show how loud the bangs got, fragmenting objects into trash.
At times the concussion of the shock waves shook the ground 75 feet away, where attendees sat or stood.
"I know you're disappointed because there are no fireballs, like what you see in the movies," Sachtleben said.
"But this is the reality of explosives."
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