UXO Item in Scarp Yard Prompts Late Night Evacuation

El Paso, Texas Local residents from about 120 homes received a bit of a rude awakening just before 10pm by the El Paso Police Department when they were asked to evacuate their homes due to a potential UXO hazard. The evacuation was a result of a military munition item being found at a Northeast scrap metal yard. Impacted residents evacuated to a nearby elementary school while the El Paso police bomb squad and the Fort Bliss EOD unit responded to the scene.

The munition, reported as live (exact type of munition not reported), was disposed of on-site without incident. Residents were allowed back into their homes after the disposal was completed. Authorities are conducting an investigation to determine how the munition item ended up in the scrap yard. The area is near a former range area and which was used during the 1940's and 50's. No injuries were reported.