‘Burn chamber’ heading for Camp Minden

NATCHITOCHES, La. (AP) – 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 (NAK-uh-tesh) 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.