Travis Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team detonated a hand grenade an employee found Wednesday in a self-service automobile parts yard, Jackson Harris, Solano County Sheriff’s public information officer, said.

Solano County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from the employee, who works at Pick-n-Pull in the 4600 block of Air Base Parkway, Fairfield, and said the grenade had been found in a passenger vehicle.

Company employees had been cleaning out the car when they saw the device, described as a pineapple fragmentation grenade, Harris said.

“Our deputies and the Suisun Fire District responded to the scene,” said Solano County Sheriff-Coroner Thomas A. Ferrara.

Deputies who inspected the device said its pin was still in place.

Nonetheless, the Pick-n-Pull yard and neighboring businesses were evacuated immediately to an area at least 200 yards away, Harris said.

The Sheriff’s Office called Travis Air Force Base, which sent its ordnance disposal team (EOD). Members confirmed the grenade was a live, World War II-era grenade.

They transported the grenade safely back to the air force base, where it was detonated, Ferrara said.

“EOD personnel said the blast radius of that type of hand grenade would have been approximately 75 meters,” Ferrara said. That’s more than 82 yards.

The Pick-n-Pull was closed for about 90 minutes after the employee’s call, and reopened around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Harris said.

Solano County Sheriff’s Office investigators are trying to determine the origin of the hand grenade, as well as the vehicle.

“Anyone who suspects any suspicious or potentially explosive device should immediately back away from the device and contact their local law enforcement or the Solano County Sheriff’s Office at 707-421-7090,” Harris said.

Those with information about the grenade, but who want to remain anonymous, may call Crime Stoppers at 707-644-STOP (7867).

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