Police don't have good news for residents of a Barrie neighbourhood evacuated as experts deal with explosive devices found during a homicide investigation.

Police say the residents can expect to be out of their homes for up to 24 hours.

Const. Angela Butler says about 25 homes have been evacuated as a precaution now that police have determined there are explosive devices and chemicals in the residence.

The explosives were discovered Thursday afternoon as officers with the Barrie and provincial police forces executed a search warrant in a cold case investigation.

Butler says a father and son — who were arrested Thursday in the 1978 slaying of Michael Traynor — were living in the home.

Donald Feldhoff, 54, is charged with first-degree murder and his father, William Feldhoff, 75, is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Case dates to late 1970s

Traynor's family reported him missing on Sept. 18, 1978, when the Barrie resident was 26.

His body was found with obvious signs of trauma in a bush area in Springwater Township, north of Barrie, a few weeks later.

Butler said she did not know how many people were involved in the evacuation.

"We need to take all precautionary measures with the surrounding area," Butler said.

"We have confirmed that there are explosive devices and chemicals within that home," she said.

Butler said most of the evacuees will be staying with family or friends in the area but police were prepared help those with nowhere to go find accommodation.