Friday got a lot more intense than expected for one Fairfield family when a Butler County Sheriff's Office bomb squad was called to their home after relatives opened a gun safe and spotted what looked very much like a hand grenade. Bomb technicians secured the device and removed it from the property, and no injuries were reported. Officials said the grenade will now undergo diagnostic testing before technicians decide how to dispose of it.
What officers found
According to the Butler County Sheriff's Office, family members discovered an MK2 "pineapple style" hand grenade inside a gun safe that belonged to a deceased Army veteran who served during the Korean War. Deputies said the grenade appeared intact but had a plugged base that suggested a non-military alteration, and the bomb squad secured the device at the scene. The office said the grenade will undergo further diagnostic examination, including X-ray, to determine whether it remains live before technicians decide on disposal.
What a pineapple grenade is
The Mk 2, commonly called the "pineapple" for its segmented cast-iron body, was a standard U.S. fragmentation grenade through World War II and into the Korean War era. Reference sources note that even decades-old ordnance can still be hazardous; see Wikipedia for background on the Mk 2's design.
A pattern of finds in the region
Butler County's bomb unit has handled similar recoveries in recent months. Local outlets, including Journal-News and WHIO, reported that the bomb squad recovered an altered MK2 from a Warren County home in December 2025. Those stories highlight how often munitions from past conflicts turn up during estate clean-outs and routine household cleanups.
How to stay safe
Officials remind residents not to touch suspected military ordnance and to call law enforcement immediately if they find anything that looks suspicious. The U.S. Army frames the public safety message as "Recognize, Retreat, Report," see the U.S. Army 3Rs Explosives Safety Guide for more on what to do if you encounter suspected ordnance.
