Beachgoer finds World War II mortars on Folly Beach

From 10WISTV.com: Beachgoer finds World War II mortars on Folly Beach
FOLLY BEACH, SC (WCSC) - Authorities say a beachgoer found two World War II mortars on Folly Beach Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency crews closed the beach around 3 p.m. Tuesday so that officials could detonate the two mortars.

Folly Beach Public Safety Chief Dennis Brown says the county park area used to be an artillery range - complete with mortar shells used as a high arcing explosive during the last world war. That is how the shells ended up being buried on Folly Beach and it was Mother Nature that exposed them after being underground for close to 70 years.

Bomb technicians say the mortars may have moved more inland because of the high tide.

"They were actually on the beach front and you can see where the beach has eroded and slowly exposed these to the daylight so they were able to find them," Brown said.

The Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the State Law Enforcement Division and the Folly Beach Fire Department all responded to the call, but had to wait for officials from the U.S. Airforce.

The park to be evacuated to remove the shells from the area. Brown says he's sure this won't be the last time something like this turns up on the beach since erosion is still a big problem on Folly Beach.

Brown says until the renourishment project to restore beach sand on Folly is completed next year, beachgoers should always be aware of their surroundings on the beach.

If you come across an object you're not sure of on the beach, the best thing to do is to not pick it. Move to a safe place and then notify authorities and give them your location.