Fayette, N.Y. — (WHAM) - Four people were arrested Wednesday after Seneca County Sheriff’s deputies said they set off an explosion using tannerite that caused a fire in a corn field.
On Easter Sunday, deputies said they were called around 9 p.m. for reports of an explosion in Fayette, a town located six miles southwest of Seneca Falls. The blast was heard from miles away, according to deputies.
When deputies arrived at a cut corn field at Zwick Road and Disinger Road, they found the field was on fire. The Fayette Fire Department helped to extinguish the flames.
Investigators determined that four people used tannerite - a legal explosive compound commonly used for rifle targets - to ignite a mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel. When used as intended, tannerite does not ignite fires. used as intended ,will not start fires.
"When used improperly and mixed with other substances , this can make for a very dangerous situation,“ Seneca County Sheriff Timothy Luce said.
Shane Horning, 21, Sheldon Wise, 20, Matthew Martin, 18, and Delmar Zimmerman, 19, were each charged with disorderly conduct and were issued appearance tickets. They will return to Fayette Town Court at a later date.
