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For the second time this week, Fallon police called out the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from NAS Fallon after a citizen reported a suspicious-looking piece of military ordnance in town.
An elderly man shopping at a yard sale in the alley behind a duplex on Mark Avenue saw the device as one of the items for sale and called authorities, police said.
The ordnance, as it turned out, ended up being a practice round used by the Navy.
Two members of the Navy bomb squad examined the device and determined it could be safely moved. Chief Jon Culver said the dummy bomb contained small amounts of explosives, but it could be transported after it was packed in sandbags.
An elderly man shopping at a yard sale in the alley behind a duplex on Mark Avenue saw the device as one of the items for sale and called authorities, police said.
The ordnance, as it turned out, ended up being a practice round used by the Navy.
Two members of the Navy bomb squad examined the device and determined it could be safely moved. Chief Jon Culver said the dummy bomb contained small amounts of explosives, but it could be transported after it was packed in sandbags.
"You wouldn't want it sitting on your fireplace mantle," he said about the potential danger of the practice bomb. "I don't understand why people want to pick these things up and take them off the range."
Fallon Police Chief Russ Brooks said the residents who were selling the ordnance at the yard sale said they purchased it at another garage sale in town.
Although the inert munition found Thursday didn't pose a serious danger, some ordnance found in the desert can be explosive and cause serious injuries, according to Zip Upham, public affairs officer at the base. He said unexploded ordnance can sometimes lands outside the boundaries of the five bombing ranges used by NAS Fallon aviators in Churchill County.
"The ranges are posted expressly as no trespassing areas, mostly for people's safety," Upham said. "Sometimes these things are found outside those areas and people pick them up. We don't ever recommend doing that. If it goes off it could be extremely dangerous."
Fallon Police Chief Russ Brooks said the residents who were selling the ordnance at the yard sale said they purchased it at another garage sale in town.
Although the inert munition found Thursday didn't pose a serious danger, some ordnance found in the desert can be explosive and cause serious injuries, according to Zip Upham, public affairs officer at the base. He said unexploded ordnance can sometimes lands outside the boundaries of the five bombing ranges used by NAS Fallon aviators in Churchill County.
"The ranges are posted expressly as no trespassing areas, mostly for people's safety," Upham said. "Sometimes these things are found outside those areas and people pick them up. We don't ever recommend doing that. If it goes off it could be extremely dangerous."
He said anyone who finds military ordnance should call local police, who will get in touch with the bomb squad.
"The E.O.D. team here in Fallon is responsible for the safe removal and destruction of any military ordnance, even if it is found in Reno. The region goes all the way over to the California coast."
Upham said dummy rounds are designed to look like live munitions and it might be difficult to distinguish between the two.
"Some have spotter charges similar to shotgun shells. A true practice dummy is totally inert but you would have to know the difference between a live round and a dummy," Upham said. "It could be a very bad mistake if you're wrong. If you find a piece of military ordnance, even if it's up in your attic, treat it as live."
"The E.O.D. team here in Fallon is responsible for the safe removal and destruction of any military ordnance, even if it is found in Reno. The region goes all the way over to the California coast."
Upham said dummy rounds are designed to look like live munitions and it might be difficult to distinguish between the two.
"Some have spotter charges similar to shotgun shells. A true practice dummy is totally inert but you would have to know the difference between a live round and a dummy," Upham said. "It could be a very bad mistake if you're wrong. If you find a piece of military ordnance, even if it's up in your attic, treat it as live."
This was the second time this week that military ordnance was found.
Police were called to the Ideal Mobile Home Park Tuesday night when a man walking his dog discovered five sets of fins that fit on the bottom of mortar rounds. Some residents of the mobile home park were evacuated until the devices could be removed.
The Navy ordnance team collected the items and transported them to a bombing range where they were detonated.
Brooks said officers are still investigating that case.
Marlene Garcia can be contacted at mgarcia@lahontanvalleynews.com
Police were called to the Ideal Mobile Home Park Tuesday night when a man walking his dog discovered five sets of fins that fit on the bottom of mortar rounds. Some residents of the mobile home park were evacuated until the devices could be removed.
The Navy ordnance team collected the items and transported them to a bombing range where they were detonated.
Brooks said officers are still investigating that case.
Marlene Garcia can be contacted at mgarcia@lahontanvalleynews.com
