50-year-old explosive to be detonated this morning by Nisqually Tribe and JBLM

The Nisqually Indian Tribe and Joint Base Lewis-McChord officials are working together to detonate unexploded ordnance that has been found close to the Nisqually River below Muck Creek, the tribe announced on its website.

The detonation is set take place between 11 a.m. and noon on Tuesday, March 31.

The unexploded ordnance is between Yelm and the Nisqually Reservation.

The unexploded ordnance was discovered after weather and time revealed it, according to the tribe’s news release. The ordnance is a type of Navy bomb with a thicker casing that is used to keep moisture out.

The explosion is expected to be loud, according to the release.

“Because the location is close to the river on a steep embankment, JBLM ordnance personnel want to detonate it before the Leschi Walk and to avoid any additional freezing and thawing which might cause the estimated 50-year-old ordnance to move toward the river,” the release reads.

To reduce the risk of flying ordnance debris, JBLM personnel will use 1,500 pounds of water and 500 sandbags to absorb much of the blast, according to the news release. The blast will be aimed toward the JBLM range area and away from the river and the reservation. River sweeps of the area will also occur before the blast.

A precautionary evacuation will take place in the Kalama Creek Hatchery area. Residents in the Church Kalama area also may want to make plans to be elsewhere during the hour of work, according to the release.

Access to the tank crossing will be closed along with access to the Kalama Hatchery road.

Prior to today’s detonation, the Nisqually Tribe Chairman and 5th Council Chris Olin joined Nisqually Tribe Emergency Management and law enforcement personnel in a meeting with Joint Base Lewis-McChord personnel on March 26, including the UXO unit that will handle the detonation, according to the release.

“It’s been awhile, but we know these things happen and we’ve seen them in our history and it’s important we take care of this as soon and as safely as possible,” said Nisqually Tribe Chairman Ken Choke in a statement. “We’re thankful for our working relationship with JBLM that gets us to a resolution safely and quickly.”

Anyone with questions can contact Nisqually Emergency Management at 360-456-5211.

This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 10:23 AM.