There was alarm and excitement last night in the Outer Sunset, as residents reported hearing loud explosions along Ocean Beach.
That was a very large boom.... Anyone else hear it? #SanFrancisco
— David Cruise (@DavidCruiseSF) July 7, 2016
Whoa! What was that? Anyone hear/feel those explosions out here?
— Andy Cooper (@terrapin_sf) July 7, 2016
The boom came courtesy of World War II-era explosives, which were recovered in the walls of a Forest Knolls home (on the 300 block of Oak Park Drive) last night. The home is currently undergoing renovations.
After being summoned to the home to take possession of the explosives, SFPD's Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit safely disposed of the bombs by detonating them at Ocean Beach, near Kirkham Street, around 9pm, an hour after closing off the beach to the public.
The explosions heard around Great Highway/Ocean Beach are from the #SFPD EOD unit disposing of ballistic materials seized earlier in the day
— Ofc. Grace Gatpandan (@OfficerGrace) July 7, 2016
Residents reported hearing the explosions as far away as Daly City and Noe Valley.
Anyone else hear a large explosion in Daly City? Shook our house a little bit.
— Browncoat24 (@browncoat24) July 7, 2016
@OfficerGrace @terrapin_sf I heard them all the way over here in noe valley.
— Rafael Monterrosa (@Rafael415) July 7, 2016
Responding to criticism online that the neighborhood should have been warned of the explosions, SFPD spokesperson Grace Gatpandan noted that the information could potentially jeopardize the safety of onlookers:
Also have to consider the possibility if we warn people ahead of time, it could cause some to head that direction to watch the explosions
— Ofc. Grace Gatpandan (@OfficerGrace) July 7, 2016
