The discovery of a live military shell this afternoon in the back shed of an Orange County residence, led to scores of families being evacuated until the Patrick AFB EOD Unit was able to secure and remove the artillery, OCSO deputies said.
According to OCSO:
Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded this afternoon, Sunday February 21st at 1:30 pm, in reference to a live military shell contained in the back shed of a residence located at 127 Cosmos Drive. After the preliminary assessment, deputies decided to treat the device as a possibly dangerous and unstable live military shell, which could pose a danger to residents and deputies. The area surrounding the shed was immediately evacuated in order to establish a safety zone, resulting in numerous adjacent residents having to evacuate their homes for their own well-being.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office EOD Unit was requested to respond and once on the scene at 3:00 pm, a more thorough assessment was undertaken. The EOD Team from Patrick Air Force Base was also requested to respond and assist with the incident.
The Patrick AFB EOD Unit arrived shortly before 6:00 pm, conducted the necessary assessments of the shell with the view to determining how best to remove it safely. That process is now complete and the Patrick AFB EOD Unit has removed the military shell from the shed and has assumed the transport to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Range, with the assistance of the OCSO EOD Team.
All residents have been allowed to return to their homes and the street opened to normal traffic.
The shell will be rendered safe in a remote area of the OCSO Range. Residents of that area may call regarding the sound, if it carries.
