When SWAT agents stormed the bunker to rescue the boy from the man's property in the rural Alabama community of Midland City, Dykes "engaged in a firefight with the SWAT agents, " Pack added.

NPR: FBI: Ala. Captor Rigged Bunker, Waged 'Firefight'

But authorities' decision to rely on every tool at their disposal paid off: Dykes had planted an explosive device in a ventilation pipe he'd told negotiators to use to communicate with him on his property in the rural Alabama community of Midland City, and also placed another explosive device inside the bunker, the FBI said in a statement late Tuesday.

WSJ: Military tactics, arms, helped rescue Ala. hostage

As it turned out, authorities' decision to rely on every tool at their disposal was a wise one: Dykes had planted an explosive device in a ventilation pipe he'd told negotiators to use to communicate with him on his property in the rural Alabama community of Midland City, and also placed another explosive device inside the bunker, the FBI said in a statement late Tuesday.

WSJ: Military tactics, arms, helped rescue Ala. hostage

"We certainly hope that Accomack County can now return to the community that it once knew and probably wants to return to -- a tranquil, rural community where people can relax and not be afraid of ... losing their property or having a fire occur, " the spokeswoman said.

CNN: Virginia police arrest 2 in string of suspicious fires