Calhoun County explosion caused by explosive training company

The executive of a company that trains law enforcement in the use of explosives said his firm is responsible for a blast Wednesday that frightened residents in the Angel community near Jacksonville.  Ryan Morris, the CEO of Pennsylvania-based Tripwire Operations Group, which trains law enforcement in explosives and firearms, said the blast in an old rock quarry on Angel Drive was necessary to safely dispose of unsafe explosives.  The explosion happened between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday.  Morris would not say what type or how much explosives were detonated Wednesday, but said they were “high explosives.” Morris said that company personnel inspected the explosives and determined it would not be safe to try to move them. The company decided to detonate the material on site instead.  Morris said his company is licensed to do such training in Alabama, but because of complaints from local homeowners the company will no longer train in the quarry.