Sea Marker Washes Up, Apparently No Hazard

An apparently spent flare-type marker belonging to the Navy was found washed up Friday morning on Huntington State Beach, prompting lifeguards to briefly close that area of the surf line and shore, and summon a military disposal team.

A maintenance crew discovered the 2-foot-long, 6-inch-wide cylindrical marker on the beach about 8:30. On it was the stenciled warning “Marker. Do Not Handle. Contains Phosphorous. Contact Military or Police.”

One worker told the state parks lifeguards, who contacted the military.

An Army explosives disposal team from Point Loma “looked at it, put it in a case with sand, put it in the back of the truck and drove off” about 11:30 a.m., said Eric Dymmel, a lifeguard at the state beach. He said he was told the markers are usually activated when they hit the water, emitting smoke and sometimes light.

According to Dymmel, the disposal team said the marker was expended and apparently no threat to the public or environment. He added that the team could not explain why the marker washed up.