Live Munition Found In Subdivision
POSTED: Tuesday, November 6, 2007
UPDATED: 3:34 pm EST November 6,2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A day care facility, a restaurant and a tanning spa were evacuated on Tuesday after a nondetonated device, possibly a World War II-era bomb, was located in a subdivision that was constructed on land formerly used by the U.S. Army, according to officials.
The device was found in the backyard of a recently constructed unoccupied home during a search in the 8600 block or Warwick Shore Crossing, officials said. Orlando fire officials investigated the discovery, and the device was destroyed.
The Primrose Daycare, which hosts about 150 children, a Quizno's and Planet Beach Tanning Spa located on Lee Vista Boulevard were evacuated by authorities. Orlando police initially reported that a Planet Smoothie had been evacuated.
The children at the day care were taken to a nearby Publix, officials said.
Crews began searching for munitions in the neighborhood, located near Odyssey Middle School, after two rockets and a grenade were found buried underground in October about 1,000 feet behind the school and yards from homes.
A consulting firm hired by builder Lennar Homes marked properties where metal objects exist.
Recently, families from the Warwick subdivision met with Lennar officials to discuss fears that they may be living near or on top of buried explosives.
Lennar home builders told the homeowners that a munitions consultant they recently hired identified metal objects on all 54 of their home sites.
"What happens next is that we go in and start digging these things out of the ground," Lennar Division President Wayne Broedel said.
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