DRACUT — Local emergency services sprang into action Tuesday when a teenager magnet fishing in Beaver Brook unearthed a smoke grenade, prompting a controlled detonation by bomb disposal experts.
At around 11:17 a.m. on July 30, the Dracut Police and Fire Departments received an alert that a youth had reeled in what appeared to be a smoke grenade from the water beneath the Parker Avenue Bridge.
Firefighters from Dracut quickly arrived on the scene to assess the situation and confirmed the potentially hazardous find.
Without delay, the Massachusetts State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, was called to assist.
The team, specializing in bomb disposal, conducted a safe and controlled detonation of the device to eliminate any threat it posed.
Dracut Fire Chief Richard Patterson urged the public to exercise caution when engaging in magnet fishing. “This is a first for Dracut, but across the Commonwealth, there have been several instances where ordnance has been recovered from bodies of water,” Patterson stated.
He emphasized that aged and corroded explosive devices could be highly unstable and stressed the importance of immediately contacting authorities if such an item is discovered.
Dracut Police Chief Peter Bartlett joined in acknowledging the coordinated effort between the fire and police departments, as well as the state-level teams, in ensuring public safety during the incident.
