'Volatile Ordinance' Detonated On Cape Cod Beach

EASTHAM, MA — Police on Cape Cod detonated a "volatile ordinance" that was discovered at a local beach on Thursday.

The ordinance was discovered at a bay beach in Eastham on Thursday, police said. Officials detonated the device at that location later the same day.

Police officials said that, according to the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, the item was likely a phosphorus flare.

"It had clearly washed in with the tide and was not placed on the beach with any ill intent," officials said. "These devices are commonly used in a marine environment for location marking and this is not the first time similar [devices] have washed up on our beaches."