CAPE MAY — Today at about 2:24 p.m., Cape May lifeguards discovered an 18-inch-long object that “resembled a mortar shell,” had washed up in the Cove beach area, according to Fire Chief Jerry Inderwies Jr.
They believed it was unsafe, and transported it to Beach Patrol headquarters on Grant Street, he said.
That device was determined to be a white phosphorus flare, commonly used by the military.
The Atlantic City Bomb Squad detonated the device, with a second charge, at 4:30 p.m.
The result was an “extremely huge explosion,” according to Herald Reporter Jack Fichter, who witnessed the action.
During a post-detonation press conference, at about 4:45 p.m., Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor said city police alerted his office at that time. Also alerted were the Atlantic City Bomb Squad, Office of Emergency Management and New Jersey State Police.
As a precaution, the beach and promenade from Windsor Avenue to just beyond Grant Street was closed in the interim. The beach and promenade reopened after the device was exploded.
No injuries resulted during the incident.
Villas – My advice: Hit the links. It clears the head.
