Source of loud boom in York County explained

A group of people -- shooting exploding targets made of Tannerite -- caused the earthquake-like rumble that shook homes in Codorus Township on Sunday, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

A trooper responded to the 4200 block of Krebs Road late that morning. His investigation led him to a field where several individuals were shooting the targets.

"It's those legal explosion targets that you can buy," Trooper Rob Hicks said. "If you hit it, it explodes. It's legal."

Several residents in the area reported hearing a loud boom and a concussion that shook their homes.

What was that boom in southern York County?

"When we had the earthquake a few years ago, it was nothing like that. This was an explosion," resident Scarlett Amspacher said that day. "We felt the whole house shake, yes, we were scared. The neighbors all along Krebs Road, they were all out in vehicles, and they felt it, heard it."

One target may not have caused such a loud noise and rumble; but when the shooters combined a few targets and shot it -- that's what did it, Hicks said.

"They put a few of them together, which made a louder explosion than they anticipated," Hicks said. "They said that was the last time they were ever going to do that."

Still, there was nothing criminal in their actions, and so they are not facing any charges, he said. The group was cooperative, and they were in an open field, away from homes.

What were the loud booms in York County?

Tannerite is a brand name of an explosive sold for rifle target practice that "when used as prescribed, is safe/legal/fun for shooters from all walks of life," according to the company's website.

Contact Ted Czech at 717-771-2033.