Playtime in Fort Meade took a frightening turn on Monday when a group of children stumbled onto what looked like a military training grenade in an open lot, officials said. Polk County Fire Rescue crews moved in quickly, secured the area and called in specialized investigators, with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office backing them up. The State Fire Marshal’s bomb squad later examined the device and removed it from the scene.
What Officials Say
According to a Facebook post by Polk County Fire Rescue, crews responded after the children reported finding the item in the open lot. Firefighters secured the area to keep people back while they waited for the bomb squad to arrive. The post states that the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Bomb Squad investigated and retrieved the military training grenade, with deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office assisting at the scene.
How The Bomb Squad Handles Calls
The Florida State Fire Marshal maintains explosive-ordnance disposal teams that respond across the state to suspicious munitions, render devices safe and dispose of them, according to the Florida State Fire Marshal. Those teams rely on specialized equipment and tightly controlled procedures to reduce risk and typically coordinate with local fire departments and law enforcement when they are called out to handle hazardous devices.
Safety Takeaways
Public-safety officials continue to urge anyone who comes across suspected military munitions to follow the Department of Defense’s 3Rs Explosives Safety guidance: Recognize, Retreat and Report. The message is simple and strict - do not touch or move the object, leave the area and call 911 so trained technicians can investigate. The program, outlined by the Department of Defense, stresses that how old a munition looks or how harmless it appears does not make it safe, and that handling should be left entirely to bomb technicians.
Local Context
Polk County Fire Rescue operates numerous stations across the county and regularly works alongside state bomb squads and the sheriff’s office on hazardous-device incidents, according to Polk County Fire Rescue materials. Officials say residents who spot suspicious items should contact local law enforcement or Polk County Fire Rescue for guidance rather than trying to inspect or remove anything themselves.
