KENDRICK, Idaho — A family in North Idaho found a grenade in the home of a deceased relative while they were cleaning it out, prompting a large response from police, firemen and even the United States Air Force.
Law enforcement officials were dispatched to a home on Cedar Ridge Road in Kendrick, Idaho Wednesday afternoon for a reported "possible live grenade."
Upon arrival, Latah County Sheriff's Office and Spokane's Explosive Disposal Unit confirmed the explosive device was indeed "live," meaning it was capable of being successfully activated.
According to a post on social media by the Latah County Sheriff's Office, the grenade was effectively disposed of.
The time-diffused military weapon gained popularity during World War I; and unlike other explosives, it can be difficult to determine if a hand grenade is live or has been deactivated, therefore requiring a prepared response from several emergency units familiar with explosive material.
In recent years, there have been several accounts of live grenades being discovered in odd places. Oftentimes, these places are undisturbed, low-traffic rooms such as an attic, basement or storage facility.
In 2021, a team from the Mountain Home Air Force Base assisted the Boise County Sheriff's Office in the detonation of a live grenade that was found in Garden Valley.
Prior to that, in 2019, the same explosive disposal team was called to Twin Falls after two World War II-era hand grenades were found. The grenades were found after a family started looking through the belongings of their 94-year-old relative, a former soldier.
Latah County Sheriff Richard Skiles acclaimed the following departments for their response to the live grenade: Spokane Police Department, Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Juliaetta and Kendrick Fire Department and EMS and the United States Air Force.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
