It was literally “bombs away!” in the Crooked Creek community of Putnam County Saturday afternoon when a military team intentionally detonated two old mortar rounds.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said he had to call in a U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal team from Robins Air Force Base to blow up the old mortar rounds on Clubhouse Road.
The explosives were discovered by a local off-duty firefighter. Sills said the property was covered in accumulated junk, which he described as “thousands of cement blocks, tires everywhere, probably hundreds of bicycles, even two old school buses.”
“The (former owner) was obviously a hoarder, and the (new owner) had hired this firefighter to clean it up,” Sills said. “He was just walking the property in order to provide an estimate and he saw these mortars and recognized what they were and called us.”
Sills called in the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, which went to the scene and identified the mortar rounds as ones used by the military. So, as required by law, Sills called in the military.
The sheriff said no evacuation of the area was necessary because the 7.5-acre property, located on the 100 block of Clubhouse Road, was remote enough to eliminate any danger.
However, Putnam County Fire Department personnel and trucks were on scene as a precaution.
“We just stood by in case whatever they chose to do didn’t go as planned,” Fire Chief Thomas McClain said. “I’m just glad that the ordinances were located and dealt with and didn’t become a problem that ended up injuring someone.”
The bombs were detonated at 2:30 p.m. “I am sincerely appreciative of the quick response and assistance of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (Friday) and the highly professional assistance and services of the Airmen (Saturday),” Sills said.