On Saturday, June 16, at about 1 p.m., San Juan County Sheriff Department deputies and Lopez Island firefighters were sent to a Cross Road residence on a reported explosive device, which was found in the mailbox.

The immediate area was evacuated and the roadway closed for nearly five hours until regional bomb squad members arrived from Snohomish County and rendered the device safe.

Examination of the device revealed that it had been made from a collection of “safe and sane” commercial fireworks, altered to manufacture a homemade bomb.

Had the bomb exploded in the mailbox, fragments of that mailbox and elements of the bomb itself would have presented a serious risk to anyone in the immediate area.

Investigation into this incident is continuing, according to Sheriff Rob Nou.

The voters of San Juan County passed an ordinance that prohibits possession of  all personal use fireworks. As we approach the 4th of July, this will be the first year that the fireworks ban has been in place, added Nou, the professional fireworks shows will not be affected.