WELLFLEET – The Mass State Police Bomb Squad was called to Wellfleet late Saturday afternoon. Wellfleet Police confirmed the response, telling Cape Wide News that State Police was assisting Wellfleet Fire with “some discovered unexploded devices.”
Cape Wide News can report at least one controlled detonation took place at a local sandpit sometime after 9:30 PM. One of our readers reported hearing a series of detonations.
Wellfleet Fire tells Cape Wide News tharmt at approximately 3:38 PM this afternoon they responded to a residence in town for the report of found unexploded ordnance (ammunition). Upon arrival it was determined that the ordance was an immediate hazard and subject to an eminant danger.
The Wellfleet Police Department responded and the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad was contacted and requested to respond. Upon arrival of the State Police Bomb Squad it was determined that the ordance dated back to World War I and extremely unstable. Subsequently, United States Navy explosive technicians were helicoptered into town to provide immediate assistance with the situation.
The Wellfleet Department of Public Works was called to assist with transporting several pieces of ordance (shells and ammunition) to the Town Transfer Station sandpit. Accordingly, several pieces of unspent ammunition of all types and sizes of caliber were detonated under the direction of the United States Navy bomb experts and the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad.
According to Wellfleet Fire Chief Rich Pauley, it was imperative and clearly in the best interest of public safety and the safety of the community to immediately destroy the ordance effectively and as close to on site as possible.
No injuries or personal property damage resulted during this incident.
