Crime & Safety
Navy Aircraft Flare Washes Ashore At Miramar Beach
Local police and fire were called out to the incident that took place yesterday at 5:28 p.m.
Yesterday afternoon at 5:28 p.m., Half Moon Bay Police and the Half Moon Bay Fire (Coastside Fire Protection District) responded to reports of a used Navy aircraft flare that washed ashore at Miramar Beach, according to a police report issued today by the Half Moon Bay Police Department.
"The device was marked as hazardous and read 'If found call police or fire,'" the police report read.
"It was an illumination device used marking flare used to mark coordinates for training exercises...there are chemicals in any flare," said Lt. Ray Lunny, Public Information Officer and the Investigations Bureau Commander for the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
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The device was given at the scene to the Bomb Squad at the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office to dismantle safely, according to Interim Half Moon Bay Police Chief Lee Violett.
Lt. Lunny said that these sorts of flares contain the chemical phosphorus. "It could burn you if you picked it up," he said, "and that's why we pick them up if found," he said.
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Phosphorus is also contained in road flares used by police or other authorities when parts of a road or highway are marked as off limits by passing motorists.
Sergeant Mark Dury with the Bomb Squad at the county Sheriff's Office confirmed that the flare was dismantled without incident yesterday.
"We have a special device where we can burn them," said Lt. Lunny, "and safely mitigate it."
