WW II munitions force closure of B.C. beach

[B00Mer]

Here some cool news....

Part of Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island has been closed to the public because munitions left over from the Second World War might be buried in the sand.

The closure follows the discovery of an unexploded mortar shell in the Wickaninnish Sand Dunes in February.

Parks Canada said the dunes were used for a wide range of military ordinance practice in the 1940s and '50s before the park was created.

It said after the live shell was found, the Department of Defence was called in to check the area and has recommended it be closed to the public until a more thorough examination can be done.

Parks Canada is warning anyone who might find an unexploded shell to stay away from it, mark the location from a safe distance and call 911 or the police.

news source: WW II munitions force closure of B.C. beach - British Columbia - CBC News

I knew the Pacific Rim National Park was the bomb... now it really is..

 

[The Old Medic]

Unexploded ordnance is found in many places that have become parks, housing developments, etc. It can sometimes be buried several feet below the surface, and slowly make its way back up.

In San Diego, CA, the city annexed what had been a Marine training area during World War II and Korea. They "swept the area" and declared it safe. About every 3-5 years, kids are injured or killed when they discover munitions and try to play with them. This area has been combed, repeated, over the past 30 years, and every time they remove at least a ton of unexploded ordnance, mostly mortar rounds, rifle grenades, regular grenades, etc.