Fire Station Evacuated After Woman Turns In Grenade

A Lincoln Park fire house was evacuated briefly Sunday night after a woman turned in a grenade, prompting a visit by the police bomb and arson squad.

The woman arrived at Fire House Engine 22, 605 W. Armitage, around 7 p.m. and told firefighters she found the device at a family member's home, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman said.

The building was cleared for about a half-hour as the police department's Bomb and Arson Squad inspected the grenade, which was determined to be safe; it was removed.

It wasn't immediately known if the grenade was a replica or training device, the department spokesman said. Chicago police could only say the device was "inert."

If someone finds an explosive device, they should call 9-1-1, rather than move it to a fire station, the fire department spokesman said.