Fisherman discovers suspicious military device while harvesting oysters in Chesapeake Bay

CHURCH CREEK, Md. (WMAR) — A fisherman found something suspicious while harvesting oysters in the Chesapeake Bay on Thursday.

The fisherman took the item back to his Church Creek home on Hoopers Island Road, and called 911.

Arriving deputies were unable to determine what it was, and called the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Turns out it was a military marine flare, which according to the Fire Marshal's Office is similar to a road flare, but is instead dropped from planes into the water for lighting and navigational purposes.

The Department of Defense was notified, at which point a diagnostics test was conducted which revealed the flare was likely still live.

Bomb techs removed the flare from the fisherman's property and took it to a nearby farm where it was safely detonated.