Demolition Crew Finds Six Pounds of Blasting Caps in Coeur d'Alene Safe

Demolition crews working in the 1000 block of East Lakeside Avenue discovered a safe in a residence basement, and a project manager found about 6 pounds of electronic blasting caps inside, police said. The discovery occurred around 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, and prompted an immediate safety response.

The blasting caps were transported to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, where officers secured the items in the department lobby because their condition was uncertain. “Due to uncertainty about their condition, officers secured the blasting caps in the lobby and immediately evacuated those nearby to a safe distance,” the Coeur d’Alene Police Department said. Police alerted nearby businesses, closed the street in front of the police department, and Ramsey Elementary was placed on a safety hold as a precaution.

The Spokane Bomb Squad responded to the police department and took custody of the blasting caps for disposal. Officials have said the items were turned over to the squad for disposal; the bomb squad’s involvement follows standard protocol when the condition of explosive materials cannot be immediately assessed.

Sgt. Christie Wood, cited by responding personnel, said, “These explosive devices appear to be very old, and were possibly found by the owners of the property while they were cleaning out the house after a long term renter moved.” The Coeur d’Alene Police Department offered residents direct guidance: “Occasionally, community members come across explosive materials that have been stored and forgotten over time. If you encounter anything suspicious that you believe could be explosive, please leave it in place and contact the police department. Officers will come to your location and take the appropriate safety measures to ensure the item is made safe and properly disposed of.”

This incident adds to a string of recent local discoveries that have required bomb-squad responses. In a separate case, Coeur d’Alene Police Community Action Team and Idaho Probation and Parole officers found an active pipe bomb during a routine probation check at a home on the 1900 block of West Fairway Drive; the Spokane Bomb Squad rendered that device inert and an arrest followed. Those events underscore the operational role regional bomb squads play in Kootenai County and the public-safety disruptions that follow.

For East Lakeside neighbors, the immediate impact was short-term: building cleanout work halted, nearby businesses and a school held briefly, and a traffic closure by the police department. Longer-term implications include questions for demolition contractors and property owners about searches for hazardous materials during cleanouts and clear chains of custody when explosive items are found. Authorities say they will provide further details as disposal and reporting are completed. In the meantime, residents are urged to follow police guidance and report any suspicious material rather than handling it themselves.