Fire in my shop caused by old powder.

[Elk Hunter]

Came home a week ago last Monday to watch the fire department cutting a big hole in my garage/shop roof to put out a fire. A whole lot of smoke damage to the house and a few guns lost in the shop. The shop will have to have a whole new roof structure and be completely re-wired. I've spent days cleaning guns and tools. Haven't gotten to the bigger stuff, lathe, milling machines etc.

The fire started outside when some old surplus rifle powder decided to cook off. I had put it outside on top of an old freezer I use as a flammable cabinet after I found it was going bad and was going to put it on the lawn as fertilizer. Just didn't get to it in time.

I haven't gotten into the garage overhead to see if I have hulls or wads left. I had many thousands of each in all gauges. My son looked and said the two Mec progressives stored up there were toast.

If you have old powder check it often, if it's starting to go bad dispose of it quickly, don't let this happen to you.