Decades-old munitions in grocery bag left at Ohio fire department. Bomb squad rushes in
Someone turned in a pair of 20th century projectiles to an Ohio fire department, spurring a bomb squad call, authorities said.
The munitions, both about 40 mm, were dropped off in a grocery bag. Mike Grimes, bomb squad commander for the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, told McClatchy News in a phone interview that they were treated as a potential threat until an X-ray showed there was no powder or explosives inside the projectiles.
“We treat it as if it’s live until we determine otherwise,” Grimes said.
Grimes said he estimates the ordnances date back to at least World War II, but they might be older.
One is stamped with the names “Hotchkiss,” a French munitions manufacturer, and “Paris.”
The other is stamped with “Winchester Repeating Arms Company, Newhaven, Connecticut,” a U.S. manufacturer.
Grimes said there’s no information on the person who dropped off the projectiles.
“He went in, dropped them off at West Chester” fire station, he said. “They in turn requested the bomb squad.”
The bomb squad delivered the projectiles to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for explosive ordnance disposal.
Grimes said incidents like this one are somewhat common. Last month, his squad responded to a call and picked up 11 smoke grenades.
“We pick up a lot of military ordnance,” Grimes said. “Say grandpa brings them home from the service, then passes away and the family finds them. Then we respond. This particular call is not unusual.”
Butler County is about a 35-mile drive north from Cincinnati.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Decades-old munitions in grocery bag left at Ohio fire department. Bomb squad rushes in."
