Box of WW2 grenades dropped off at Breckenridge fire station sparks evacuation

Breckenridge police and Summit County sheriff’s deputies cordoned off an area around the Red, White & Blue fire station on Highway 9 near Tiger Road after a woman arrived there with a box of World War II-era hand grenades and bazooka rounds for disposal. The roped-off area included a section of the Blue River Bikeway between the Fairview roundabout and Tiger Road. A bomb squad was dispatched from Jefferson County to dispose of the items.

Breckenridge police chief Dennis McLaughlin said the woman contacted Breck police mid-morning, saying she had some old ammunition to dispose of. Officers directed her to the fire station, where they often collect unwanted bullets. They were surprised, however, when the woman opened her trunk to reveal a small cache of antique explosives she had received from her grandfather. An officer at the scene with experience in an artillery unit noticed that a fuse on at least one of the devices appeared degraded and was thus at risk of exploding if not handled carefully.

According to the police, the bomb squad will likely load the explosives onto a trailer and detonate them in a remote area.

As of 6 p.m. on Monday, the police cordon had been lifted, although the explosives had not yet been disposed of and remained on site.

http://www.vaildaily.com/news/23568861-113/box-of-ww2-grenades-dropped-off-at-breckenridge (short article)