100 tonnes of fireworks are destroyed
28 November 2006
By Judith Martin
It sounded like it could be one of the best Guy Fawkes displays in the country – 100 tonnes of fireworks going up in smoke in the middle of the North Island.
But there were no elements of display in this burn-off. It was all just part of the job for members of the 1st New Zealand Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron- the bomb squad.
The fireworks, which were all past their use-by date and unable to be sold or used, were taken to an isolated area of Waiouru where they were placed on pallets in a pit, doused with diesel and set alight.
Military ordnance, which is old or unusable, is disposed of similarly. Pits are carefully dug in an isolated area, and the ordnance placed in layers, between which is positioned the initiating explosives. With operators standing about 1000 metres away, the pit is blown up remotely.
EOD Squad commanding officer Major Bob Gillies says safety is paramount when his staff undertake any disposal task.
“There is a procedure to follow, and a very methodical way of completing the task.”
The EOD Squadron is relatively new - it celebrated its first birthday recently – although in New Zealand the Army has traditionally been one of the official organisations that deals with the disposal of explosives.
The squadron is tri-Service and is responsible for explosive ordnance disposal, which includes chemical and biological explosives, and for disposing of improvised explosive devices - in other words, bombs. It also disposes of unserviceable commercial explosives and ammunitions.
It employs four civilians throughout the country who dispose of commercial products on the squadron’s behalf.
Following the events of September 11, 2001, the New Zealand government recognised the need to be able to deal with potential terrorism, hence the establishment of the EOD Squadron. The New Zealand Army has taken the lead in introducing and developing the new capability, but the squadron will be tri-Service.
Major Gillies says while the biggest risks for the squadron are associated with improvised explosive devices, the disposal of military ordnance must also be undertaken very precisely.
“We are often called to dispose of, for example, ammunition or a grenade brought back from a war and discovered in someone’s shed. Military ordnance is designed to kill, and it may have become unstable through wear and tear. Operators are trained to recognise the item and effectively and safely dispose of it.
Bomb disposal is much more complex, he says.
“An improvised bomb can look like anything, and can be made in many ways, and you don’t know immediately what could trigger it. It could be made by kids who have read about it on the Internet and are into experimenting, or by someone with much more sinister motives, such as in the Trades Hall bombing in Wellington in the 1980s.
“It often doesn’t matter if a bomb is simple or sophisticated – both can be effective.”
When an incident occurs, such as something suspicious is left in a public building, other emergency services - the police, fire brigade and ambulance - are involved. Cordons must be established and buildings evacuated.
“You are dealing with the unknown, and may have to work with it remotely, using a robot. Sometimes our operators must rely on the description provided by witnesses, which can be inaccurate," says Major Gillies.
The training involved in becoming a disposal operator is extensive.
“Operators are taught about bombs, what’s inside ordnance, and how it works. Safety is a huge issue, so they are taught how to protect themselves and the public. Importantly, they are taught to deal with the unknown. That is often the hardest part for our instructors – ensuring operators are prepared for anything.
“We have an array of equipment that can be used, and they are taught what equipment can be used in different scenarios. They learn to work methodically so they don’t miss anything. Some tasks are simple, and they can be dealt with quickly. Bomb disposal can take up to five hours to deal with, and, because they have been designed by someone to kill, disfigure or scare, can be complicated and very dangerous.”
Bomb disposal operators spend much of their time upskilling, reading research, and familiarising themselves with overseas trends.
They usually possess certain personal characteristics, says Major Gillies. “As well as needing to have technical skills, they have to have the right temperament. They have to be confident, and able to cope with stress.”
It can be daunting when all eyes are on you as you work to render a bomb safe.
“There is a lot of pressure to return the situation back to normal so people can carry on with what they were doing.”
Ends