Bomb technicians disposed of the round in Hagerstown Monday night

A live ammunition round from the Civil War era was defused by bomb technicians in Hagerstown, Maryland. According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) technicians disposed of the cannonball at Beaver Creek Quarry on Monday following its discovery by a Frederick County resident, who obtained the round from a family member.

A press release confirmed the relative recovered it at Monocacy National Battlefield.

The resident contacted the agency after being informed of the possibility that the cannonball was unexploded. Despite its antiquated condition, experts were able to confirm that the round was live due to its fuse mechanism remaining unimpaired, and were able to safely dispose of it. No injuries were reported upon its disposal.

BOMB SQUAD SAFELY DISPOSES OF CIVIL WAR ROUND DISCOVERED IN FREDERICK COUNTY - Bomb Techs render Civil War-era cannonball safe after homeowner told it was possibly live. Remember The 3 R’s‼️ - Recognize, Retreat, Report. https://t.co/gfHjI4NzHM pic.twitter.com/jDXpQu9uCI

— Maryland State Fire Marshal (@MarylandOSFM) March 23, 2021

Unexploded military rounds are not an atypical phenomenon in Maryland. With frequent military testing conducted at Aberdeen Proving Ground, it's common for ordnance to be discovered in the neighboring Chesapeake Bay, or later washed up on land. But just because some devices are relics of the past doesn't mean they can't be dangerous. State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci urged caution for residents who may come across unidentified rounds to "be safe rather than sorry."

“Marylanders need to be mindful that military ordnance, even vintage artifacts from previous conflicts, have the potential to explode," he said.

You can read the full statement here.