Bomb Scare on Pacifica Beach Turns Out to Be Navy Flare

Photo credit: Krzysztof Burghardt/Wiki Commons

An old U.S. Navy flare caused a bomb scare and the evacuation of a fire station Wednesday, a police captain said.

At around 10:10 a.m. a person found an old box with smoke emanating from it on the beach near Milagra Valley and brought it to Fire Station No. 71, 616 Edgemar Ave., Pacifica police Capt. Joe Spanheimer said.

Police then evacuated the fire station and the bomb squad was called, as per policy, he said.

The box was discovered to be an U.S. Navy flare, ”what they would drop out of the back of an airplane,” Spanheimer said.

The evacuation was lifted at around 12:30 p.m. No nearby businesses were affected by the evacuation.

This incident comes on the heels of the Department of Homeland Security and FBI’s warnings to local law enforcement to be on the lookout for possible terrorist attacks over the Fourth of July holiday.

The bulletin did not warn of any known active plot, but did warn that extremists could launch attacks tied to Independence Day or in reaction to perceived defamation of the Prophet Mohammed.

Following overseas attacks in June, Homeland Security Secretary Jeb Johnson said law enforcement was being encouraged to be “vigilant and prepared” for Independence Day celebrations.”

“We will also adjust security measures, seen and unseen, as necessary to protect the American people,’’ he said. “We continue to encourage all Americans to attend public events and celebrate this country during this summer season, but always remain vigilant.’’