Pine Bluff (AP) - Officials at the Pine Bluff Arsenal detonated white phosphorus
munitions Wednesday as a safety measure after drums storing the material
corroded and began leaking.
Barbara Slifer, a spokeswoman for the arsenal, said the detonation produces
noise and white smoke but it was not as spectacular as officials expected
it would be. She said the process does not release anything harmful to the
community.
The detonations began about 8:30 Wednesday morning in the rifle range
area of the installation near Yellow Lake.
White phosphorous is used to obscure or mark tactical operations on the battlefield.
It bursts into flame when exposed to oxygen and creates smoke.
The Pine Bluff Arsenal is the only white phosphorus munitions manufacturer
in the Western Hemisphere.
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