Blasting Cap Explodes, Mangling Boy’S Hand

Wed., July 29, 1998

From Staff

A 14-year-old boy lost several fingertips and part of his thumb Tuesday when a blasting cap exploded in his hand, authorities said.

Deputies found about 400 blasting caps at a home in the 9500 block of East Eighth, where the accident occurred, said Spokane County Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan.

The injured boy and several friends were burning blasting fuse that the father of one of the boys brought home from a mine he purchased near Wenatchee, Reagan said.

The man moved the caps and fuse to his home after the mine’s explosives bunker was broken into several times.

After Tuesday’s accident, the Spokane City/County Explosive Disposal Unit moved the remaining caps to a bunker outside Spokane.

After several hours in surgery, the boy was in satisfactory condition in the intensive care unit at Deaconess Medical Center late Tuesday.

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