thedrifter
04-17-09, 09:34 AM
Marines warn public about Brown Island
By: Smitha Rao
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Camp Lejeune officials are trying to get the word out that Brown Island, part of Camp Lejeune a few miles from Onslow Beach, is off limits and possibly dangerous.
Fire training exercises on the island have left behind hundreds of ordinances of explosive devices.
“What we want to emphasize is they’re all dangerous, from the biggest items to the smallest ones,” Staff Sgt. Lucas Mathews said.
The explosives are all over the island and used for training. Marines said in the summertime, people illegally come to the island, and some don’t know how dangerous it is.
“[They think] if it’s a pretty color, can’t hurt me. This looks cool, take it home. Children may see it and want to play with it. It’s dangerous,” Mathews said.
They are so deadly that the wind or even touching them could set them off.
“It has been an impact area for quite some time,” Mathews said. “So it is a sensitive fuse area. Just picking up the piece of ordinance could function it.”
There are rockets, mortars, grenades and other pieces that could drop down from aircrafts during the base training. Marine officials said people traveling along the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway aren’t allowed to stop or even tie up their boat along the island.
“Changes in temperature could possibly function it,” Mathews said. “Obviously, picking it up and striking it on something would be more than enough to function it.”
Marines said trespassers can face up to $5,000 in fines or even jail time. But they said the biggest cost could be their life. That’s why they’re asking people to steer clear of the island this summer.
Video
http://www.news14.com/content/local_news/coastal/607923/marines-warn-public-about-brown-island/Default.aspx
Ellie
By: Smitha Rao
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Camp Lejeune officials are trying to get the word out that Brown Island, part of Camp Lejeune a few miles from Onslow Beach, is off limits and possibly dangerous.
Fire training exercises on the island have left behind hundreds of ordinances of explosive devices.
“What we want to emphasize is they’re all dangerous, from the biggest items to the smallest ones,” Staff Sgt. Lucas Mathews said.
The explosives are all over the island and used for training. Marines said in the summertime, people illegally come to the island, and some don’t know how dangerous it is.
“[They think] if it’s a pretty color, can’t hurt me. This looks cool, take it home. Children may see it and want to play with it. It’s dangerous,” Mathews said.
They are so deadly that the wind or even touching them could set them off.
“It has been an impact area for quite some time,” Mathews said. “So it is a sensitive fuse area. Just picking up the piece of ordinance could function it.”
There are rockets, mortars, grenades and other pieces that could drop down from aircrafts during the base training. Marine officials said people traveling along the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway aren’t allowed to stop or even tie up their boat along the island.
“Changes in temperature could possibly function it,” Mathews said. “Obviously, picking it up and striking it on something would be more than enough to function it.”
Marines said trespassers can face up to $5,000 in fines or even jail time. But they said the biggest cost could be their life. That’s why they’re asking people to steer clear of the island this summer.
Video
http://www.news14.com/content/local_news/coastal/607923/marines-warn-public-about-brown-island/Default.aspx
Ellie