OSBURN, Idaho – It was literally an explosive find in one rural North Idaho home.
On Monday, bomb detonators from Fairchild Air Force Base traveled two hours to deal with an old artillery shell. Authorities said the explosive had been sitting in a home for more than half a century.
Osburn police said a World War II veteran had a fascination with explosives and kept an artillery shell in his home for more than 60 years.
Even after the veteran died, the explosive remained in the home undiscovered. The home is now up for sale. Family members were cleaning it when they stumbled upon the piece of history. Authorities said the explosive was so active that they had to call in Fairchild's bomb squad.
"Any time something like that is found, there should be caution to grab it, move it, that type of thing," said Darell Braten with Osborn Police.
Authorities took the artillery shell to the local gun range to detonate it.