Unexploded Dynamite Detonations: Footage and Aftermath from Bridges to Backyards

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Q1: What should I do if I find old dynamite on a rural property or job site?

A1: Back away immediately without touching, lifting, or shaking the container. Do not alter room ventilation, turn on electric tools, or attempt to submerge the material in water. Call 911 immediately and inform dispatch that you have located suspected vintage commercial explosives so they can dispatch a certified hazardous devices bomb squad.

Q2: Why do people believe putting old dynamite in a freezer will make it safer?

A2: Laypeople often assume cold slows chemical breakdown. While cooling slows some thermal decay, it causes liquid nitroglycerin to freeze into solid crystals below 13°C (55°F). These crystals grind against each other under the slightest vibration, vastly increasing the likelihood of an accidental detonation.

Q3: Is true nitroglycerin dynamite still manufactured today?

A3: True nitroglycerin dynamite has been almost entirely phased out worldwide. Heavy construction, mining, and demolition operations now rely on ammonium nitrate emulsions, water gels, and cast boosters. These modern alternatives are far cheaper, yield comparable blast energy, and will not sweat or self-detonate after prolonged storage.