UPDATE: WWII-era grenade brought to fire station for disposal
A man brought a WWII-era grenade to a westside fire station Friday night, prompting the closure of several blocks of West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs police said.
The man discovered the grenade, of Japanese make, and other 20mm rounds while cleaning out a storage unit, police said. He brought the grenade and munitions to Colorado Springs Fire Department Station 3, at 922 W. Colorado Ave., at 6:00 p.m.
West Colorado Avenue from Limit Street to 12th was closed at 6:00 p.m. while the Regional Explosives Unit examined the grenade. The grenade and munitions were determined safe and given to Fort Carson for disposal, police said.
At 9:30 p.m. eastbound Colorado Avenue re-opened for traffic, and westbound was opened shortly afterwards.
If found, commercial explosives and other devices should be turned over to police, and left untouched until deemed safe, police said. The Regional Explosives Unit, made up of both police officers and El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies, handles all explosives related calls in El Paso, Teller, Park, and Chaffee counties.
