PORTLAND, Oregon — On July 14, 2015, at 11:10 a.m., Central Precinct officers responded to a home in the 7900 block of Southeast 16th Avenue on the report that some kids found an unexploded military explosive somewhere in the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.
Officers responded to the home and learned that the explosive was carried from Oaks Bottom to the home, where the reporting party called police.
Central Precinct officers shared a photo of the explosive (approximately 12″ in length) with the Metropolitan Explosives Disposal Unit (MEDU), who then responded along with the 142nd Oregon Air National Guard Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team.
Officers evacuated a few neighboring homes as a precaution while bomb techs removed the explosive for safe disposal. According to bomb techs, the explosive was very old but still potentially dangerous.
At this point, there is no information on any additional explosives in the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.
Occasionally, old ordnance will be discovered in the Portland area after its been buried or under water. Community members are asked not to touch or disturb these items as they can be very dangerous if moved.
Anyone coming across a suspected explosive device should immediately call 9-1-1.
Photo Credit: Portland Police Bureau
