2 pipe bombs and WWII shell spice up the day after Fourth

The Fourth of July may be over, but firefighters and the Utah Army National Guard were busy Thursday defusing other potentially explosive situations.

Two pipe bombs were found in separate locations and the Guard detonated World War II-vintage era ammunition that had gone unnoticed for at least 20 years.

The 32-inch long, 8-inch diameter, 200-pound artillery shell was discovered about 100 feet off Camp Williams property a couple of days ago, said Utah National Guard spokesman Maj. Hank McIntire. Goats used to keep the foliage down during the summer made the shell visible after a recent feeding spree.

Based on its condition, McIntire said the shell had probably been there at least 20 years. Camp Williams continued to use World War II-style artillery shells in training until the 1980s. That means the munition had not necessarily been sitting there since the 1940s, but McIntire said it was possible.

The shell was detonated by the Army Thursday.

"It was a sizable boom, ... like a front row seat for a fireworks show," McIntire said.

Four homes were evacuated as a precaution, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. No damage was reported.

McIntire said no other unexploded munitions have been found in that area.

Also Thursday, the Unified Fire Authority was called to deal with two pipe bombs discovered in separate and apparently unrelated incidents.

In Taylorsville, residents reported hearing a loud boom Wednesday night but didn't report it until Thursday, said UFA Capt. Jay Torgersen.

Investigators found the remains of a 1-inch-diameter pipe of galvanized steel. There was no significant damage. Authorities have a few leads as who set off the pipe bomb, Torgersen said.

Also in Holladay Thursday, an unexploded pipe bomb made of PVC pipe was found in a portable latrine near the Cottonwood Country Club outside a home being remodeled. It appears the bomb's fuse was extinguished when it was dropped in the outhouse's water, Torgersen said.

Workers discovered the device Thursday morning.

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