KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff’s patrol deputies responded to a report of found munitions, located inside a residence in Kelseyville on Wednesday.

At approximately 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a residence on Pine Drive on a report of found munitions and other devices, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.

Employees of the Public Administrator’s Office had been in the process of cleaning out a residence, which had been occupied by a veteran who had recently passed away, Brooks said. As they were removing items from the residence they located some assorted ammunition and a device they could not identify.

A patrol sergeant responded to the residence in an attempt to identify the device. Believing it was some type of military ordnance, the patrol sergeant contacted the Napa County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, according to Brooks.

Brooks said the deputy took several pictures of the device and e-mailed them to the Napa County EOD Unit for identification.

Shortly after receiving the photographs, the Napa County EOD Unit contacted the patrol sergeant and verified it was a live explosive device. Brooks said they identified the device as a Japanese mortar from World War II. The Napa County EOD Unit advised they were responding to the residence to dispose of the mortar.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies evacuated the area and set a 300 foot perimeter around the residence, Brooks said. They also obtained supplies requested by the Napa County EOD Unit, so the mortar could be safely detonated. Kelseyville Fire Department personnel responded to the area as a safety precaution.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Napa County EOD Unit arrived at the residence. Brooks said they inspected the mortar with a remote controlled robot and prepared it for detonation.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., the mortar was safely detonated without causing any damage to nearby structures, Brooks said.