YARMOUTH, Mass. (WHDH) — A bomb squad detonated a possible World War II-era hand grenade Thursday after police say a realtor clearing out a house discovered the dangerous device.
“It was a hand grenade about that big, and a shell about that large,” said Lt. Michael McCarthy, Yarmouth Fire Department.
Investigators say a realtor working to clear out a vacant South Yarmouth home found the grenade. First responders knew instantly it was still loaded.
Our biggest concern is the safety of the people around,” said Lt. McCarthy.
Erv Zelnick lives in the neighborhood — he came rushing outside when the emergency crews started showing up.
“I said, ‘I was in the service, I’ve handled hand grenades. I’ve thrown them and I’ve exploded them,’ stay away from it,” said Zelnick.
Zelnick kept a close eye on all the activity.
“Having had experience with hand grenades, I wouldn’t even go over close and look at an old one. I don’t want to get that close to it because I know if there’s anything wrong that the possibility of it going off it can kill you,” Zelnick said.
The fire department and bomb squad eventually took the grenade to the town's dump where they blew it up.
No one was hurt.