Overview

• A joint U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force training off Milwaukee in early May dropped four Mark 25 flares that failed to ignite on impact
• One undetonated flare washed ashore at Chicago’s Montrose Beach on Memorial Day and was safely removed by the Chicago Police bomb squad
• Three Mark 25 flares remain unaccounted for in Lake Michigan, posing potential risks to swimmers and shoreline visitors
• Each device contains phosphorus pyrotechnic material that burns up to 2,900°F, capable of causing severe injury if activated during handling
• The U.S. Coast Guard is advising anyone who spots a silver cylinder marked with military identifiers to stay clear and contact law enforcement immediately