By Pepper Fisher

PORT HADLOCK – We spoke with Detective Sgt. Brett Anglin from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office to get an update on Tuesday’s explosion and fire that injured a Port Hadlock man and his granddaughter.

Sgt. Anglin says the 6-year-old girl was not injured from the explosions but received burns to her head from the resulting fire. The prognosis for her is good.

“Yes, the girl is stable and has been released from the hospital. We believe that she will heal to 100%.”

As for the suspect in the case, Jesse Taylor, Anglin confirms that he did indeed lose his left arm in the explosion of an improvised explosive device, thought to be of his own making. But they have not been able to interview the man yet because he is still unconscious and in critical condition.

We asked if they know whether an explosion caused the fire in the outbuilding or if the outbuilding caught fire and set off the IEDs.

“At this point, still under investigation of what caused the fire. We do believe at this point that it was likely detonated unintentionally and that was the initial cause of the fire and the remainder of the explosions. It’s likely to rest of the explosions were caused because of the fire. But obviously we’re still investigating that.”

After the fire was put out in the 700 block of Ness’ Corner Road, detectives got a search warrant for the property, accompanied by agents from the FBI and the Washington State Patrol bomb squad. They found evidence of manufactured explosives such as handmade pipe bombs and IEDs in the outbuilding.

(JCSO photo: One of several explosives found on suspect’s property)