ROCK COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Rock County sheriff’s deputies were investigating a man’s death when they found a large amount of explosive powder for making fireworks.

18 pounds of explosives were seized from a house near Milton – and a bomb squad from Rockford Illinois detonated them at a nearby pit.

Deputies said they were called Tuesday to investigate the death of 41-year-old Chris Sprague. They said they entered the home to make sure there were not other victims – and noticed that commercial-grade fireworks were being produced in the basement.

Sheriff’s captain Todd Christiansen said some of the powder was highly volatile – so it was decided to transport it for as short a distance as possible to where it could safely be exploded.

The Milton Fire Department was on the scene as the bomb squad took the explosives away. No one was hurt.

Officials said Sprague’s death was apparently self-inflicted.