Batesville, Ark. — A suspected hand grenade discovered among debris from a house fire in Batesville prompted state and federal bomb squad responses on Wednesday, according to the Batesville Police Department.
The incident began Tuesday evening when the Batesville Fire Department responded to a blaze at a residence on Broadwater Lane. Fire crews extinguished the flames that night, but the fire later reignited during cleanup efforts the next day.
While sorting through debris on Wednesday, a member of the homeowners’ family found what appeared to be a hand grenade, authorities said. The immediate status of the device—whether it was live or inert—was not known.
Once the suspected device came to light, authorities adjusted their approach to ensure safety. Firefighters worked cautiously to suppress the renewed fire while protecting nearby property, operating from a safe distance. Batesville police coordinated efforts with fire crews at the scene as they awaited additional assistance.
The Arkansas State Police Bomb Squad and FBI Bomb Squad were both summoned to handle the situation. Police commended the swift collaboration among all responding agencies.
Details about the device’s origin, as well as whether it was determined to be an active explosive, were not released.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.