Residents in the Blythe area may hear some explosions in the distance this week as the Richmond County Bomb Squad will be hosting an explosive related training class Monday, June 13 through Friday, June 17.
This training will be held at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Training Center at 2098 Greenland Road between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each of those days. During this time, explosions may be heard and felt within the immediate area of the training center.
Formally known as the Hazardous Device Unit, the Bomb Squad employs some of the most technologically advanced equipment for safely disposing of explosive materials.
“The unit’s highly trained and skilled members are equipped with specialty tools including a custom designed bomb disposal response vehicle, a total containment explosive vessel with transport, and two remote bomb disposal robots,” reads the Bomb Squad’s website.
MORE: Two homicides recorded early Sunday morning in Augusta
The Bomb Squad receives roughly 80 calls per year for suspicious packages found in other public areas. The Richmond County unit is a regional unit that serves 16 counties in Georgia as well as Aiken County, S.C.
Most recently, the Bomb Squad was called to Belvedere, S.C. in May when witnesses on the scene reported a man had walked into the Circle K on Edgefield Road and said there was a bomb in his car, then left.
While no bomb was found, Christopher Lee Bragg, 41, was arrested and charged with conveying false information regarding attempted use of a destructive device and hoax device or replica of destructive device or detonator.
Scott Hudson is the senior reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
