Picatinny 'testing event' detonations rattle Morris County residents
What in the world was up with all the thunderous booming that rattled homes - and homeowners - in Northwest New Jersey on Thursday?
Longtime residents are used to the occasional rattles that periodically emanate from blasting at area quarries and from Picatinny Arsenal. Turns out Thursday was the latter case, and louder than usual, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the military research and manufacturing facility crossing from Rockaway Township and Jefferson.
"People outside the gates may hear 10-13 testing events today, where each event consists of a group of five detonations," spokesperson Tim Rider advised. "Testing will commence no earlier than 9 a.m. and will go until approximately 3:30 p.m."
Rider clarified the explosive noises were the result of "a type of detonation" and not cannon fire.
"It was noticed by our neighbors," he said. "Sometimes people only hear it in one direction. You never know with these types of things."
Rider said he sent the advisory to area police departments including Jefferson and Roxbury, which shared the advisories on social media. Police in other towns, such as Parsippany, 11 miles away, did not, leading some residents to social media looking for answers.
Similar testing may take place on Friday, he added.
Also known as the Joint Center of Excellence for Guns and Ammunition, Picatinny provides products and services to all branches of the U.S. military. About 6,000 civilians, contractors and military personnel work at Picatinny, considered to be the largest civilian employer in Morris County.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Picatinny Arsenal detonations source of Morris County home rattling
