GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY – Sheriff’s officials in Grays Harbor County are warning residents about multiple reports of live 20-mm high-explosive military anti-aircraft rounds washing up on the beach there.
“These rounds should be considered dangerous and can explode upon impact,” the sheriff’s office said in its warning issued Monday, adding in all caps: “*DON’T TOUCH * DON’T MOVE * DON’T TRANSPORT.”
The live rounds, which are mostly washing up in the Pacific Beach area south of Moclips, are 6 to 8 inches in length and 20 millimeters in diameter. They resemble large rifle ammunition, said Chief Criminal Deputy Brad Johansson of the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office. Many of the rounds were found encased in a kind of rock or corroded metal.
They are believed to be from the World War II era, which makes their stability unknown.
Johansson said some local residents have been collecting the rounds for a long period of time and taking them home, unaware of the extreme danger they pose. Local crab fishermen also have been finding the rounds in their crab pots.
The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Division is now collecting the rounds and detonating them on the beach. Two detonations have taken place so far.
Johansson said there used to be an active U.S. naval station at Pacific Beach that closed years ago.
No injuries have been reported so far in connection with the ammo.
Anyone who spots any of these rounds is urged to leave it in place, mark its location and contact the Grays Harbor County dispatch center at 360-533-8765.