The Utah National Guard is getting ready to search a 51-acre area in Utah County, near Camp Williams, to find and remove old bombs and ammo from World War I and II. This is important for keeping Eagle Mountain residents and hikers safe.
Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber from the Utah National Guard said this area was once used for military training during the world wars. “A lot of army units practiced here to get ready for the wars,” Kroeber explained.
This is not the first time they have checked the area. In 2017, they did a visual sweep, and in 2019, they used special tools to look for dangers. Colton Berube, who leads the cleanup project, mentioned that “You can see how much has changed — there are now many houses here where there used to be open land.” As new neighborhoods keep growing nearby, making sure the area is safe is a top goal.
Tyler Maffitt, a spokesperson for Eagle Mountain, pointed out how much military history is in the area. “It’s interesting to know we have such a rich military history right here,” he said. Maffitt enjoys hiking the trails and stressed that people use the area for outdoor activities.
Officials want to remind everyone to follow the “3 Rs” if they find anything that looks like old munitions: Recognize the item, Retreat (move away from it), and Report it to local authorities. The National Guard’s sweep will help keep the area safe for everyone in the future.
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