Officials to set off controlled explosions to recover bodies of California avalanche victims

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Officials worked to lower the risks of more deadly slides Friday by setting off controlled explosions in the area where an avalanche struck in California’s Sierra Nevada so crews could safely recover the bodies of the people killed.

Rescue crews loaded up a snow vehicle with skis and other supplies and headed toward the area near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe, while helicopters circled overhead. Avalanche mitigation work is designed to intentionally release unstable snowpack to reduce the risk when rescue crews go in.

Brutal weather and the threat of more avalanches have kept crews from safely recovering the bodies of the eight people killed and another still missing from Tuesday’s avalanche, which was roughly the size of a football field.

Authorities are investigating the avalanche, including whether criminal negligence played a role in the tragedy, a sheriff’s office leading one of several investigations said Friday.

Why the tour company that organized the backcountry ski trip didn’t cancel in the face of a powerful storm and what their guides knew as the weather worsened are the questions being considered.

Both the Nevada County Sheriff’s office and a state ag...