Sheriff’s Office reveals source of explosions

On the evening of February 20, residents in a wide area east of Sisters reported two loud and intense explosions, one at about 9 p.m. and another, more intense, at about 9:45 p.m.

A woman who lives off Fryrear Road described the second explosion as “a shock wave hitting the house.” Numerous other residents reported windows rattling and feeling the shock wave.

On February 21, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) reported that “detectives with the assistance of Oregon State Police bomb squad detectives located the site of the explosions. The site is in the area south of Jordan Road near Fryrear Butte.”

According to DCSO, “Based on evidence located at the scene, detectives believe the explosions were possibly caused by Tannerite or similar exploding type targets.”

Some shooters familiar with Tannerite exploding targets are skeptical that Tannerite alone could produce an explosion as large and intense as the ones reported by local residents.

The incident remains under investigation and DCSO says that further information will be released at a later time.