Local Judge Executive Injures Himself Trying to Burn Old Gun Powder

July 7, 2010
Judge-executive still in hospital after accident

KATIE BRANDENBURG The Independent

CATLETTSBURG — The Boyd County judge-executive remains in the hospital after an accident trying to dispose of gunpowder more than a week ago.

Judge-Executive William “Bud” Stevens had skin graft surgery at about 2 p.m. Tuesday in what he said will probably be the last procedure before he can be released.

Stevens said he expects to return home from Cabell Huntington Hospital sometime this week or weekend.

Boyd County Commissioner Carl Tolliver, who chaired Tuesday’s Boyd County Fiscal Court meeting, said he’d visited with Stevens and that he was in good spirits.

Stevens found some leftover gunpowder at his home on June 28 and decided to dispose of the powder because he thought keeping it around would be dangerous, he said.

He made one attempt to burn the powder, but the powder didn’t light. He tried again and the powder burned stronger than expected, he said.

“It went up, and went out as much as it went up,” Stevens said.

He was caught in the flame from the powder.

Before his surgery Tuesday, Stevens said he was feeling “pretty rough” but was given morphine to deal with the pain of the burns.

He was listed in fair condition at the hospital at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Stevens has served as judge-executive since 2007. He is seeking his second term.

KATIE BRANDENBURG can be reached at kbrandenburg@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

http://dailyindependent.com/local/x383296315/Judge-executive-still-in-hospital-after-accident

And the real kicker to the story is that this is actually the SECOND time he has burned himself with gunpowder, The first time wasn't as bad but he had to go get a haircut afterward.

So let this serve as a reminder to everybody here, BE CAREFUL!!!!

Disposal of powder by burning is safe if done right. Not over a pound, on the ground in a band not over an inch wide, lit with a long match or paper spill. A pile is not the way to go.

Works for smokeless only, black will "whomp!" Black is best dealt with by dumping into an excess of water which will dissolve out the potassium nitrate.

I had heard best to use it as fertilizer...

Here's a thought. Unless the powder had gone bad, why not sell or give it away? And if gone bad just toss into the planter/lawn.

I just toss any re-claimed powder on my lawn for fertilizer.

In 30 years of reloading, I had to do that once.

This reminds me of someone I know, trying to get a brush fire going by pouring right from the gas can onto the flames and wondering why the flames were lapping back to the spout! Meanwhile, his wife, watching out the window was nearly having a STROKE over the entire scene! The person of whom I am speaking is a genius. I see that many who are genius' actually lack much COMMON SENSE!

some of the most brilliant people I know are the most absent minded...
:what:

Stevens found some leftover gunpowder at his home on June 28 and decided to dispose of the powder because he thought keeping it around would be dangerous, he said.Gee whiz, from what did the man have gunpowder "left over???" If he's a reloader he could have used it with his next batch of reloads. If he thinks stored smokeless powder is dangerous, he should have been studying more. If he's not a reloader, wotinell is he doing with "leftover gunpowder?" If someone else "left" the gunpowder "over," why didn't Stevens contact that person and ask what to do?

As with most stories in the news media, dealing with anything firearms-related, there has got to be more here they didn't bother mentioning. As the story stands, it just doesn't make sense.

I just toss any re-claimed powder on my lawn for fertilizer.

I bet that's one dynamite lawn you got!

10 to 1 it was blackpowder and not smokeless powder.

10 to 1 it was blackpowder and not smokeless powder.

+1 on that analysis.

10 to 1 it was blackpowder and not smokeless powder.

Exactly what I thought. I'll bet 20 to 1!:)

My nephew ended up in the hospital trying to burn green weeds. He poured gunpowder all over the weed pile, a pile at the bottom, and a "trail" of blackpowder (5' long) to where he lit it. Instant boom...not at all like the Hollywood westerns where the tail of gunpowder is slow and manageable.:D

He immediately jumped in his freezer yelling at his wife to call an ambulance!

He was lucky...no skin grafts...but he was hurting pretty bad for a few days. Lost most of his hair arm hair, eyebrows, front of his shirt was burned off. Nose, exposed arms, and face was 2nd degree...a lot more of him was 1st degree. Hospital stay...2 days....lucky.

Doctor said his quick thinking in jumping in the Freezer may have prevented more damage.

He sold his blackpowder rifles and stock of powder before the week was over. He had six kids....wise move.:uhoh:

Oh, btw, the weeds? Unfortunately...they only had 2nd degree burns too.:D

I was about to say the same thing.

It's pretty hard to outrun black powder when you light it!!

rc

I know a kid who was pouring FFF powder into a fan with a candle at the front of the fan.

For a few seconds, he was having fun, watching whatever it is that would be happening, that is, until the flame quickly shot back and blew the canister.

The state police were called in because in the ER, it was reported that his entire face was second to third degree burns and they thought a bomb had gone off.

Not a pretty picture, not at all.:eek:
Fortunately, he ended up completely healed. I told him that is how people get disfigured FOR LIFE!
Telling a 14 YO is about like talking to a wall.

Like I say "When in doubt, DON'T!"

Black powder has the same burning rate confined or unconfined, and it does not suffer fools gladly

I've burned black powder in the distant past. I made a LONG trail (about 10 feet) of BP up to the pile, then doubled it. All I have to say is I'm glad I wasn't six inches closer when the pile went up! Ahh, the follies of youth.

As with most stories in the news media, dealing with anything firearms-related, there has got to be more here they didn't bother mentioning. As the story stands, it just doesn't make sense. Very few reporters would know the difference between BP and smokeless if you hit them with the can.

If I had to guess, I would say that he was just telling the media that to keep things simple.

Mythbusters trail of black powder video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WYhvSR9r4c