Explo Systems Records

After the smoke has cleared, Explo Systems could find themselves in deep financial trouble when the investigation is complete. Back rent and a massive clean-up effort are a couple of parts of the growing list of bills the company is tallying up.

The bunker blast on Camp Minden that rocked homes and rattles nerves revealed more than just a mishap for Explo Systems. State representative Jeff Thompson says that the criminal investigation of Explo uncovered more than just six million pounds of improperly stored M-6 propellant outside of the company's facility.

Lieutenant Colonel Mike Kazmierzak of Camp Minden says Explo is in financial trouble with the post as well.

"To my understanding, Explo still owes the National Guard or the Louisiana State Military Department more than $400,000 in back rent" says Kazmierzak.

That doesn't shed a good light on the company for Thompson. Now that the seven day evacuation of Doyline is over, more financial charges can possibly be tacked onto an already hefty bill. Law enforcement agencies are still calculating manpower costs during both the probe and the evacuation.

Thompson says that "these expenses have not been built into their budgets and these should be paid by Explo when this is all said and done."

Right now, with weeks of clean up still ahead, the biggest concern for the state and the post is that Explo doesn't leave any of their work undone.

Thompson says that he has a three step approach to correcting the problem so that this won't happen again.

First, fix the problem on site - make it safe. Next, fix the blame - find out who is responsible and how did it get that way. Finally, fix the law - make sure there's enforcement and oversite to prevent this from ever happening again.