The Roseburg Blast (camp, live, store)

[ArlaJo]

I have lived on the west coast for 25 years and never heard of the "Roseburg Blast" until last week.
I cannot find out what businesses were destroyed except for the building supply store where the truck was parked. Does anyone know? Where can I find pictures?
I would be interested in hearing first hand accounts of that night.

[Terryj]

This is an article the News Review did on Roseburg Blast remembered. Roseburg Blast 50th anniversary

[leilaniguy]

There is a short movie on Youtube taken probably the day after. The ruins were still smoking. I was there, but only 6 at the time. I do remember the Jr. High with it's windows & doors blown out and all the burned autos & buildings downtown. Supposedly this is where Mc Veigh got the idea to blow up OKC.

[ArlaJo]

Thanks Terryj... I found the pictures and articals interesting. WOW.
I read that it was both a truck load of fertilizer and a truck fromTinino, WA
loaded with dynamite. I cannot imagine the damage. Again ty.

[BeeBuzz]

Google "Roseburg Blast". The recent 50 year anniversary stimulated multiple sources of info on this subject. A friend was at a forest work camp many miles away and heard the blast. It was one explosives company truck parked in downtown Roseburg, "loaded with 2 tons of dynamite and 4.5 tons of nitro carbo nitrate". Unfortunately, a nearby building caught fire that night, leading to the explosion.