Civilian killed in blast at Fort Bragg

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Fort Bragg officials say a civilian killed in an explosion at the North Carolina Army post was scavenging for scrap metal when he stepped on a round and it exploded.

Officials identified the man killed Friday as 47-year-old Ronnie Blue of Hamlet. They said Monday that another man was injured in the explosion. The blast occurred in an area that overlooks the range where soldiers practice firing artillery, tank shells and smaller weapons.

Fort Bragg Range Officer Bill Edwards said the other man, whose name has not been released, called the victim's brother who alerted authorities.

A helicopter flew over the range and located the body. Edwards said it took three hours to recover the body.

The post said the men were not Army employees.

“We cannot control the access into the impact area, other than with our signs. We have range personnel that are driving the area during duty hours. We have forestry, wildlife and environmental personnel, and range inspectors,” Edwards said.

Fort Bragg law enforcement officials are investigating.

The post is home to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and Special Operations Command.

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They are off limits but that doesn't keep people from sneeking through the woods to these areas. most of these areas are pretty isolated.

doubletap357
November 2, 2009 3:26 p.m.

Is it that bad out here that people have to scavage for scrap metal outside of a firing range and isn't that area off limits for public safety?