Unusual ocean conditions attributed to the growing El Niño phenomenon have resulted in a "bomb-like" Navy marine marker being discovered on a Ventura County beach, prompting a response from bomb disposal units.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad and Navy EOD from Point Mugu were dispatched to a residence in Ojai after a citizen found a Navy MK25 phosphorus location marker at the waterline. This type of marker is designed to create a visible smoke and flame signal for locating objects or individuals in the water. The origin and exact discovery location of the marker remain unclear. Orange County Bomb Squad suggested that recent storms, driven by powerful swells associated with El Niño, may have brought the marker to the surface.
Officials emphasized the significant danger posed by marine markers, even if they appear wet or expended. Residual phosphorus can dry and spontaneously reignite or explode when moved. These markers can burn at temperatures up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and are highly toxic. The concerned citizen who found the marker took it home and contacted law enforcement, a decision officials acknowledged as well-intentioned but cautioned against due to the inherent risks.
This discovery follows other unusual findings linked to changing ocean conditions. During the summer, a live Super Bazooka round from the 1950s, a remnant of the area's past use as a military training facility, washed ashore at Mugu State Beach. The hazardous ordnance required a controlled detonation on-site, necessitating a temporary closure of the beach and Pacific Coast Highway.
Beyond military artifacts, the El Niño-influenced warmer waters have brought other rare sightings to California's coast. These include hammerhead sharks spotted near Malibu Pier and, in a historic event, two olive ridley sea turtles nesting on beaches in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach—species typically found in tropical regions. Sand erosion has also exposed long-submerged jetties near Newport Harbor.
Ventura County bomb squad advises the public that if any item resembling a bomb or military equipment is found, it should be left undisturbed, the area evacuated, and 911 immediately contacted.
