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Photos: Escondido Explosives House Torched By Authorities
The planned burning of a house filled with " massive amounts of bomb-making material" in Escondido went as hoped today, according to LA Now, " with no large explosions and with much of the fire and smoke gone within an hour."
With the intent to destroy the materials through a quick, intensely hot burn, the flames at times reached "four stories in the air, and thick, dark smoke reached about 2,000 feet before drifting slowly eastward, pushed by a slight sea breeze." In the air, the sound of a few "cracks and pops" could be attributed to "hand grenades and ammunition."
The home will continue to smolder, and in a couple of days authorities will be able to enter the property to make a final inspection. Burning the home was the best option, say officials, in order to make the property and neighborhood safe. The home's occupant, 54-year-old George Jakubec "remains in federal prison in downtown San Diego on bomb-making and bank robbery charges," and is offering his apologies to his former neighbors for the disturbance.
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