Louisiana National Guard: Camp Minden getting a ‘burn chamber’

By

The Associated Press

Louisiana Army National Guard Soldiers with the 2-108th Cavalry Squadron in Shreveport, La., participate in simulated mounted patrols during the unit’s annual two-week training at Camp Minden in Minden, La. The troops performed pre-mobilization drills under the guidance of the Pre-mobilization Training Assistance Element in preparation for their anticipated 2010 deployment with the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in support of the global war on terrorism.

NATCHITOCHES, La. — The Louisiana National Guard says the 200-ton chamber built to burn 7,800 tons of potentially explosive artillery propellant at Camp Minden is heading toward central Louisiana. A news release says it’s scheduled to arrive at the Port of Natchitoches on Tuesday, and to leave the port on Feb. 8. It says a four-day highway trip should get it to Minden on Feb. 12.

The chamber is a cylinder 60 yards long and 27.5 feet wide, designed to contain pollution when the M6 propellant is burned.

It was built by MJ&H Fabrication Inc. of Ponca City, Oklahoma.

It originally was scheduled to arrive at the Port of Natchitoches Jan. 4, but was delayed because high water had closed several of locks along its route.

About 

The Associated Press