What was feared to be gelignite turned out to be weedkiller in one of two incidents dealt with by the army bomb squad in South Otago yesterday.
The Owaka Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to a "well-involved" barn fire in Barrs Falls Rd shortly before 4pm.
While dousing the flames, firefighters were told half a box of gelignite might be stored in the barn and were advised to clear the area.
The Christchurch-based New Zealand Defence Force bomb squad, which was in nearby Kaitangata, was called to the scene.
Squad members determined the gelignite was in fact weedkiller.
A fire safety officer has been called to determine the cause of the fire.
The bomb squad was in the area to dispose of several explosive devices in Kaitangata following concerns over their stability.
It is understood a woman contacted police yesterday regarding three mortars in her possession, prompting the bomb squad to detonate the shells.
The woman, who has a collector's licence and who bought the mortars, decided to dispose of them following a bomb scare in Balclutha late last month.
In that case, a South Otago farmer left 65 sticks of ageing gelignite and detonators on the steps of the Balclutha Police Station, causing the evacuation of several blocks of the township, before they were later detonated.
