A 3-year-old boy playing in his front yard Monday evening found what most parents fear, a live explosive from World War II.
The toddler discovered the hand grenade outside his family’s home in the 600 block of Willard Street in Hartline, Washington, and carried it inside to show his parents. The adults immediately called 911 at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to a post from Grant County Sheriff’s Office. (RELATED: Street View Camera Records Naked Man In His Yard, Court Orders Google To Pay Over $12,000)
Washington State Patrol bomb technicians responded to the scene after deputies requested specialized assistance. The bomb squad confirmed the device was live and capable of detonation. Technicians removed the grenade from the property and transported it to a rural area north of the small central Washington town. They destroyed the device without incident.
The Sheriff’s Office released a photograph of the actual grenade on its Facebook page. The device appeared heavily corroded with visible rust covering much of its surface.
The Sheriff’s Office described the explosive as a World War II-era hand grenade that showed significant weathering from prolonged exposure to outdoor conditions. Authorities could not determine how the device arrived at the residential property or how long it had been there.
No injuries occurred during the incident. The boy was unharmed.
Hartline sits roughly halfway between Seattle and Spokane in Grant County. The agricultural community has a population of about 150 residents. (RELATED: 95-Year-Old World War II Paratrooper Captured By Nazis Describes His Harrowing Experience In New Memoir)