Officials in Louisville are making plans to burn down a house in Highview after discovering that the resident had been allegedly creating explosives there. The suspect, 53-year-old Marc Hibel, was arrested on a felony charge of wanton endangerment after admitting to having explosive chemicals, including TNP (picric acid), in his home and manufacturing homemade explosives. The local police department’s bomb squad safely detonated a device found on the property before announcing the need for further action. Due to hazardous conditions caused by extreme hoarding, a hazmat crew or robot could not safely remove the remaining chemicals from the house. As a result, the only feasible option is to conduct a controlled burn, where the chemicals will combust safely within the house under close monitoring.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated during a news conference that various experts, including those from Kentucky Emergency Management, Homeland Security, and the FBI, all agreed that burning the house down was the most secure method to eliminate any potential threat to the public. To expedite this process, emergency powers have been invoked by the city officials. Mayor Greenberg declared a local state of emergency, and the Louisville Code Enforcement has issued an emergency demolition order for Hibel’s house and a separate attached garage.
Although it is believed that Hibel was squatting in a nearby property, he is not the legal owner. According to his arrest citation, Hibel had invited undercover officers into his residence, where he showcased what he claimed were homemade explosives containing TNT. Hibel also boasted about possessing laboratory-grade equipment and various chemicals used in creating these homemade explosives.
LMPD Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel emphasized the recklessness and extreme danger associated with Hibel’s chemical experiments. However, with Hibel currently in jail and prohibited from returning to the house, the area is considered safer than before. The explosive materials discovered in Hibel’s home are being analyzed by the police department to ascertain the potential damage that could have occurred if he had successfully detonated them.
A specific timeline for the controlled burn has not yet been provided by city officials, as it depends on several factors, including weather conditions. Concerns regarding the potential for an explosion or other unsafe situations arising from the burn were addressed by Mayor Greenberg, who explained that extensive research and collaboration with state and federal partners were being undertaken to ensure its safety. He also indicated that residents living near Hibel’s house may need to evacuate temporarily during the burn, assuring them that appropriate shelter and necessary amenities would be provided.
To keep the affected community informed, Louisville Metro has planned a meeting for next Tuesday, where residents living near Hibel’s house can share their concerns and ask questions. City workers will also be going door-to-door in the neighborhood to provide information about the meeting and address any additional queries or concerns from the residents.
Read more here: https://www.lpm.org/news/2023-08-01/louisville-will-burn-down-the-home-of-a-chemist-arrested-for-making-bombs
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