An explosion shook El Doradoans last night, but the police department was in control of the situation.

Chief Tom Boren said a resident came to the police after finding a Vietnam-era grenade in a deceased loved one's home while cleaning up. Unsure if the grenade was inert or active, it was taken by the police for disposal.

Typically, the El Dorado Police Department will seek outside help, looking to the Wichita Bomb Squad or military specialists from McConnell Air Force Base for assistance.

Between 7:30 and 8 p.m., Boren said, Air Force personnel came to El Dorado to detonate the the grenade at the police range.

They placed an explosive charge on the grenade "just to make sure" and carefully orchestrated the explosion.

Boren said his department will detonate devices like this once or twice a year.

"People will bring home military souvenirs," Boren said, but the devices aren't obviously made inert to prevent accidental detonations.

Boren said he encourages residents to bring items like these to the police.
Even military-grade smoke bombs can generate enough heat to cause a fire, he said.