Explosion rocks former ammo plant in Louisiana; no injuries reported

CAMP MINDEN, La., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- An explosion at a former Army ammo plant in Louisiana destroyed a storage bunker, but left no injuries, authorities said Thursday.

The blast took place about 5 a.m. at Camp Minden in Webster Parish when no one was working at the time. Local residents and some travelers reported the explosion, the Webster Parish Sheriff's office said.

Investigators found the roof of an underground storage bunker had been blown off.

About 121,000 pounds of clean burning igniter was the source of the explosion, but Louisiana National Guard officials, who now run the facility, haven't said how the material ignited.

Another 200,000 pounds of the igniter is still in storage.

"It looks worse than it is," Troop G spokesman Matt Harris said. "When you see the smoke plume and see it light up the night sky."

"This was a fraction of the one in 2012,"said Louisiana Army National Guard spokesman Col. Ed Bush. Members sleeping at the National Guard compound were not awakened by the blast.