For the purposes of this part, “explosives” means any substance, or combination of substances, the primary or common purpose of which is detonation or rapid combustion, and which is capable of a relatively instantaneous or rapid release of gas and heat, or any substance, the primary purpose of which, when combined with others, is to form a substance capable of a relatively instantaneous or rapid release of gas and heat. “Explosives” includes, but is not limited to, any explosives as defined in Section 841 of Title 18 of the United States Code and published pursuant to Section 555.23 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and any of the following:

azide, fulminate of mercury, black powder, smokeless powder, propellant explosives, detonating primers, blasting caps, or commercial boosters.

are not under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Transportation pursuant to provisions of Section 841 of Title 18 of the United States Code and published pursuant to Section 555.23 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations that define explosives.

This part does not apply to any of the following:

Black powder in quantities of 25 pounds or less in the hands of a retailer having a permit issued under Article 2 (commencing with Section 6066) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and in quantities of five pounds or less in the hands of all others and smokeless powder in quantities of 20 pounds or less used, possessed, stored, sold, or transported that is exempted under, or authorized by, the Federal Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-452) and applicable federal regulations thereunder.

Except when transporting explosives on highways and at safe stopping places established under the provisions of Division 14 (commencing with Section 31600) of the Vehicle Code, this part does not affect the operation of provisions of any city, county, or city and county ordinance respecting the delivery, storage, and handling of explosives which are at least as restrictive as the provisions of this part.

“Chief” means the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection and his or her authorized representatives, the chief of a fire department or fire protection agency maintained by a city, county, or city and county, or fire protection district and his or her authorized representatives, or the authorized representative of the United States Forest Service. In any area of the state in which there exists no organized fire protection agency responsible for the protection of the area, “chief,” for the purpose of this part only, means the county sheriff and his or her authorized representatives.

On any property that is owned by the state, the “chief,” for the purpose of this part, shall be the official of the fire protection agency responsible for the suppression of fires in the area. On any state property where there is no fire protection agency responsible for the suppression of fires, the “chief,” for the purpose of this part, shall be the State Fire Marshal.

Upon request of the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection, the chief of a fire department or fire protection agency, or upon request of the county sheriff, the governing body of the area under the jurisdiction of the requesting chief or sheriff may designate any person as “chief” for the purposes of this part.

For the purposes of this part, the term “person” shall mean any person, organization, firm, corporation, association, city, county, city and county, and state, and shall include any of their employees and authorized representatives.

This part does not apply to the transportation and use of explosives by representatives of the California Highway Patrol, the State Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, local police departments, sheriff’s departments, and fire departments acting in their official capacity, nor shall this part apply to the transportation and use of explosives by any peace officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this part by Section 12020 when he is acting pursuant to such authority.

The provisions of this part and the regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this part do not apply when the use, handling, possession, storage and transportation is subject to the requirements of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Industrial Relations, except as the provisions of this part and the regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal may extend beyond the scope or authority of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Industrial Relations.