Military-grade flare detonated near North Beach Park

PORT TOWNSEND — A military-grade flare was detonated on a Port Townsend beach last weekend.

At about 8 p.m. Saturday, the Port Townsend Police Department was alerted to a device that had washed up on the shore west of North Beach Park and was determined to be a marine marker used by the U.S. Navy.

Police contacted Naval Base Kitsap, which dispatched its Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) technicians to the beach.

“The technicians determined that the marine marker was unsafe to move due to its pyrotechnic filler and armed condition,” said Liane Nakahara, public affairs specialist with Navy Region Northwest.

“It was then determined that the safest course of action was to detonate this item on site,” she said.

Said Port Townsend Police Chief Tom Olson: “We often have these things wash up here and it’s part of the drill to call the Navy EOD.”

Port Townsend is 2 miles from Indian Island Naval Magazine and has been the site of military bases in the past.

More in News

Mishel Caizapanta of Port Angeles, left, and Teresa Moulton of Sequim, along with her dog, Nollie, walk along a main trail at the newly reopened Robin Hill Farm County Park west of Sequim. The park, which was closed for most of the winter in the wake of a severe November storm that brought down dozens of trees and left many trails in dangerous condition, is now open to visitors with advisories that many trails are still in need of repair. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Walk in the park

Mishel Caizapanta of Port Angeles, left, and Teresa Moulton of Sequim, along… Continue reading

Clallam Transit considers hydrogen

Zero-emission vehicles would replace diesel

Open house draws fans of new pool, wellness center facility in Port Townsend

Healthier Together event seeks feedback, solutions from patrons

Timber sales strong in Jefferson County

State-managed lands bring in $1.1 million

Conservation district extends ballot deadline to March 31

In-person voting today at Armory Square Mall

WSDOT calls off search for missing pilot

The search for a small airplane that dropped off… Continue reading

Jon Buonpane of Forks looks over a few of the many wooden items — many made by Olympic Corrections Center inmates — featured during the 2023 Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction on Saturday. The auction, which continued on Sunday, offered more than 1,000 items to raise money for scholarships for Forks High School graduates. The annual event was accompanied this year by the inaugural Forever Twilight in Forks Equinox, which ran from Friday through Sunday. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
Scholarship auction

Jon Buonpane of Forks looks over a few of the many wooden… Continue reading

Field Hall gets grant of $1M

Executive director says $8M left to raise

Peninsula College revamping its application, enrollment process

Trustees learn about new testing, onboarding plans

Most Read