The Royal Canadian Navy was called to a Coquitlam home earlier this week to defuse a Second World War-era bomb.
A contractor working on a home, which had belonged to a family's late grandfather, in the 100-block of Logan Street, in the Cape Horn area, found the bomb in a closet. He immediately left and called 911.
Investigators found the grandfather had been in the Royal Canadian Air Force and the bomb may have been a training ordnance, which carries a small but still volatile charge.
"When there is imminent danger to human life, the Esquimalt-based Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team stands ready to assist police agencies at short notice," said Lt. Paul Pendergast of the Royal Canadian Navy. "The EOD team is the first responder to deal with any military explosives and is regularly called upon to deal with such hazards as unearthed or souvenir old munitions, or marine location markers washing up on the beach."
The navy technicians quickly secured the home and seized the bomb without incident.
Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said the contractor did the right thing by calling 911 immediately.
"If you ever find something like firearms or explosives, always treat them as loaded or live and do not touch or disturb it in any way. Call 911 for your local police and describe what you found and where you found it."
