Military Mortar Removed From Kal Lake

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 09 August 2013 15:00

Kalamalka Lake

 It's mission accomplished for a Canadian Forces dive team that's been working in a Vernon area lake this week. A five person dive team from CFB Esquimalt recovered a military mortar from Kalamalka Lake this morning, removing it from the Cosens Bay area where it was spotted in about 12 feet of water by a resident on Monday. Lieutenant Navy Mike St. Pierre from the dive team told a news conference, the object was destroyed. "We transported it to a military base and we placed explosives on it, and we blew it up, simply put. That's the safest way of dealing with it and making sure it's out of harm's way." St. Pierre says phase two of their operation will be a further check of Cosens Bay using specialized equipment, to make sure there's no more ordnances in the water. "We're going to check for that. You never know what's there, but it's a beautiful lake and definately a safe lake. The chances of  this individual (a jet skier) finding it is like a needle in a haystack. It definately is, especially the amount that was exposed." St. Pierre says the mortar that was found was about six inches long, with fins on it, likely from World War Two military training that took place in the area. "The member of the public did the right thing and contacted the proper authorities." He says 12 people have been working on the mission. "We've got a five man dive team, plus five personnel from a sonar company and two support personnel." He says they will go from 15 metres deep, to the high water mark in a sweep of Cosens Bay to make sure there's no other ordnances.