Child unearths live military explosive — about 70 years old — in Carmichael backyard
A Carmichael boy on Sunday dug up a live, military-grade explosive with an up to 1,000-foot blast radius in his backyard, according to authorities.
The 81 millimeter mortar explosive shell must have been “just below the surface” when the boy unearthed the device on Marconi Avenue, raising alarm for his parent who called the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, spokesperson Sgt. Ed Igoe said Monday.
Deputies and the Sheriff’s explosive ordinance disposal team responded just after noon to the home near Garfield Avenue and determined the device was a live military shell was from 1953, Igoe said. A team out of the Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County confirmed the identification.
About six homes immediately surrounding the backyard were evacuated as both teams removed the device. The shell’s blast could reach as far as 1,000 feet, but it was not likely to reach that maximum distance due to the nearby homes, Igoe said, which is why an entire block was not evacuated.
Once the shell was removed, officials blew it up at the sheriff’s explosive ordinance disposal range.
The range normally is used for homemade devices, such as fireworks. This military shell was a “rare” occurrence, Igoe said.
“To be able to find a military-grade ordinance just buried in someone’s backyard is very rare,” said Igoe, who added he had not experienced a similar situation in his 27-year law enforcement career.
This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 9:25 AM.
