Part of a fence was blown apart when a pipe bomb exploded in the backyard of a Penticton residence, June 5, 2014.

(MEAGHAN ARCHER / iNFOnews.ca)

PENTICTON - Residents came out of their homes Friday afternoon to watch the Vancouver RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit blow up explosives materials found at the home where another bomb went off unexpectedly June 5.

Police speculate the pipe bomb was left outside yesterday and heat from the sun set it off.

After hearing a loud blast this afternoon, Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski said the disposal unit successfully disposed of explosive materials at 225 Windsor Avenue. He said today’s explosion was not the explosion of a pipe bomb, but materials that are commonly used to make bombs.

The occupant of the residence — a Penticton man in his 30's — was taken into custody Thursday and is the main suspect in an RCMP investigation. He remains in custody today and could possibly be facing charges. Lozinski said the suspect has been cooperative with police thus far.

Police obtained a warrant to search the home for any other dangerous or explosive materials. The search began shortly after the detonation of explosives.

Officers and firefighters arrived at 225 Windsor Ave. in Penticton just after 3 p.m. to find debris strewn around the backyard and into the alley. The blast apparently blew the fence apart, sending some of the shrapnel into the house, breaking a main floor window.

The main house and neighbouring homes are still blocked off by police and residents are not yet allowed back in their homes. The back alley is also cordoned off.

Joe Brok lives in the neighbouring house secured by police. He said he and his wife have lived there for eight years and the unit where all the activity is taking place is occupied by a couple in their mid-30's. He said they've never caused any trouble in the two years they've lived there, calling them good neighbours.

Brok and his wife were put up in a hotel overnight. Though he returned to retrieve a few items from his home Friday morning, police say they won't allow people back in until a thorough investigation is conducted to determine if there are more explosive materials to be found.

Kathy Hofmann lives across the street and said she heard the blast yesterday from inside her house.

“It sounded like a gunshot, but not as sharp and defined as a gunshot, but bigger,” she said.

The noise level of the two blasts was very similar, she said and neighbours told her they also saw smoke yesterday afternoon.