A routine day along the 6800 block of Brookshire Boulevard in northwest Charlotte turned tense Wednesday after a business discovered a quantity of dynamite on its property. Police, fire and MEDIC crews rushed to the scene, nearby residents and business owners were told to evacuate, and a section of Brookshire was shut down while bomb technicians got to work. Responders established a safety perimeter and kept onlookers at a distance while specialists evaluated the explosives.
As reported by WCNC, Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police said the business that found the dynamite is a regular user of commercial explosives, and the condition of the materials made it necessary for a bomb technician to respond. CMPD, Charlotte Fire and MEDIC all converged on the site, and authorities closed Brookshire Boulevard between Old Plank Road and Fred D. Alexander Boulevard while the scene was secured.
Bomb unit response and context
CMPD’s Bomb Unit is responsible for specialized explosives calls throughout Mecklenburg County. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 2024 annual report, the unit handled 151 callouts last year. Technicians are trained either to make commercial or legacy explosives safe where they are found or to remove them for controlled disposal, and they routinely coordinate with fire and medical crews when evacuations or road closures are needed.
Road closures and neighborhood impact
The closure of Brookshire Boulevard between Old Plank Road and Fred D. Alexander Boulevard backed up traffic and left nearby businesses temporarily empty while officials worked to secure the area. Crews instructed residents and workers to stay away until bomb technicians finished their assessment and confirmed the site was safe. The evacuations and traffic impacts were reported by WCNC.
What to do if you find explosives
Finding explosives is rare but potentially dangerous, so do not touch or try to move anything you suspect might be explosive. Leave the area immediately, call 911 and let trained technicians handle it. If police or fire personnel begin setting up a safety perimeter, follow their directions and stay clear until they give the all clear.
