Explosions in dumpsters prompts patrol increase around Huntington Co. schools

HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WANE) - Huntington County officials said there were multiple explosions in two dumpsters outside Northwest Elementary School on Monday.

The Labor Day explosions did not affect school schedules on Tuesday but officials have stepped up patrols around Huntington County schools.

Officials said they are still trying to figure out what set off the explosions. Huntington County Sheriff Terry Stoffel said the explosions did not start on their own.  Officials are looking for the suspect's intentions to see if it was a prank, or something more serious.

"We will be in the schools, walking around, checking things out for the next couple days just to let everybody know that they're safe, that we are taking it serious, and that there's no problem sending your kids to school.  Everything's safe," Stoffel said.

Huntington County Schools Superintendent Tracey Shafer said parents of children at Northwest Elementary were alerted along with teachers and staff in the school district.

"It did occur on school grounds sometime over the weekend away from the building, but at the same time we're not going to leave any stones unturned and we aren't leaving anything for granted," Shafer said.

The Huntington County Sheriff's Department, the Huntington Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), State Fire Marshal's office, and the Huntington County Superintendent's office are all investigating the incident.