What Are Those Mysterious Explosions Being Heard in Arkansas?

Besides winter weather impacting most of Arkansas mysterious explosions are being heard near Blytheville, Arkansas.

According to police reports from the Blytheville Police Department Facebook page, citizens have become concerned because the explosions have been rattling windows for miles around this small town located in the northeast corner of Arkansas 60 miles from West Memphis.

Some folks think it may be an earthquake since the town is near the New Madrid faultline in that part of the state, others are alarmed it could be a  meth lab gone bad or even a Russian invasion. Those last two are a little out there but someone made this comment on the police Facebook page that seems more realistic due to all the ice and snow in that area.

"Fuses blowing on the powerlines when there is a short. It blows to keep from knocking more of the line out when a tree limb or animal hets in contact with it" said, Brain Wigginton

The loud booms have been powerful, enough to shake homes in neighborhood communities nearby. Some folks are saying that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is blowing up beaver dams with explosives however, a spokesman with AGFC says they don't usually do that this time of the year.

Another theory is that a mixture of aluminum powder and ammonium powder called Tannerite is being used by shooters for target practice. The powders are said to be independently stable but when being shot from a high-powered rifle it creates a loud boom with clouds plume and smoke. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives doesn't regulate the sale or distribution of Tannerite.

Tannerite is mainly used in making homemade exploding targets but if not handled properly it can cause bodily injury and damage if in close proximity to the blast. A lot of moviemakers use this stuff when shooting an action movie that calls for explosions.

So far, the mystery remains what are those loud booms being heard in northeast Arkansas?

The Mississippi County Sheriff's Office is asking for help in determining what these explosions could be by calling 870-658- 2242 if you have any further information.