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Contractor finds WWII grenade hidden behind wall while remodeling bathroom in Seattle

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Contractor finds WWII grenade hidden behind wall while remodeling bathroom in Seattle

A contractor recently came across a historic discovery as he was renovating a client’s bathroom in Seattle, Washington. 

Vadim Kharkhavyy, who works with Polar Bear Construction, was ripping out a bathtub when he saw a grenade “between the studs,” KIRO 7 News reported on Wednesday.

“My first thought was to get out of there,” Kharkavyy told the station.

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“I rushed out of there, took a breath and actually went back in and recorded the situation,” he said. 

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“I zoomed in on my phone and took a closer peek. I’m like, that’s an actual freaking grenade.”

Police said the grenade found behind a wall in Washington state (not pictured) was not live — and it’s likely a WWII-era device. (iStock)

Kharkavyy said he’s been working in the construction business for 10 years and will sometimes find things inside the walls and under floors, such as dated magazines or newspapers. 

When he realized this item was an explosive — things got serious.

“I got a little bit frightened and put the tub down and ran out of the room, and just gave it about five minutes just in case,” Kharkavyy told Professional Remodel, a trade publication and website reporting on information associated with residential, commercial and general remodeling contractors. 

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“I didn’t know if I set something off.”

“Even if you open that compartment, you still would not know it’s there.”

Seattle Police and the bomb squad were called to the scene, and it was determined that the device was not a live grenade.

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The grenade was hidden in the wall through a compartment that a person could access underneath the bathtub and through a closet — which was on the opposite side of the bathroom wall, Professional Remodel reported.

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“Even if you open that compartment, you still would not know it’s there,” Kharkavyy told the site. 

“You wouldn’t even have known if you put your head in there because everything is so tight with all the electrical and plumbing in the way.”

“So, somebody had to know, you know, that it was there because of the way they reached in.”

A public information officer (PIO) with the Seattle Police Department (not pictured) said it’s not known how or who placed the grenade in the location where it was found. (iStock)

Kharkavyy said he lost three hours of work after he found the hidden grenade, but that he would not have risked losing his life, KIRO 7 reported.

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“Whether it’s a bomb, whether it’s a grenade — it’s an explosive. I have kids and a wife at home, so I’d rather play it safe than sorry,” he told the station.

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Kharkavyy also told KIRO 7 that investigators with the Seattle Police told him WWII veterans brought weapons with them as they returned home from combat — and someone may have “stored it there and possibly forgot about it.”

Seattle Police Arson Bomb Squad (ABS) were unavailable to offer comment to Fox News Digital as of publication.

A contractor with Polar Bear Construction in the Seattle area was ripping out a bathtub when he noticed a grenade (not pictured) hidden in the wall, according to several news reports. (iStock)

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A public information officer (PIO) with the department said it’s not known how or who placed the grenade in the location where it was found.

The PIO also sent a link directing Fox News Digital to the ATF website, where the following is stated: “Unloaded or dummy grenades, artillery shell casings, and similar devices, which are cut or drilled in an ATF-approved manner so that they cannot be used as ammunition components for destructive devices, are not considered NFA weapons.”

On Dec. 31, 2023, a grenade was found inside the walls of a home during a renovation project in a Dallas-area town, Fox News Digital previously reported. (White Settlement Police Department)

This isn’t the only recent incident where a grenade was found during a home renovation.

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In Texas on Dec. 31, 2023, officers with the White Settlement Police Department responded to a call after a new homeowner found what appeared to be a military-style hand grenade. 

A contractor in Washington came across a hidden grenade during a job while demolishing a bathroom in a Seattle-area client’s home. Police reportedly told him the device may be from the WWII era. (iStock)

People at the property and nearby residents were evacuated as the Fort Worth Fire Department Arson and Bomb investigations team arrived at the scene and determined that the grenade did not contain any explosive material, Fox News Digital reported earlier this month.

Fox News Digital reached out to Polar Bear Construction for comment.

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Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

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New Mexico

NM Department of Wildlife warns of aggressive wildlife behavior

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NM Department of Wildlife warns of aggressive wildlife behavior


The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

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NM Department of Wildlife warns of aggressive wildlife behavior

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

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CHARGES, INCLUDING MURDER. HIS TRIAL DATE IS NOT YET SET. THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE IS URGING EVERYONE TO STAY ALERT AFTER TWO CASES OF AGGRESSIVE WILDLIFE IN THE GILA WILDERNESS IN CATRON COUNTY. A BOBCAT AND FOX APPROACHED AND ENGAGED WITH PEOPLE IN SEPARATE ENCOUNTERS. THEY WEREN’T BITTEN, BUT THAT BEHAVIOR RAISES SUSPICION OF RABIES. A BOBCAT JUST TESTED POSITIVE FOR THAT IN SIERRA COUNTY. STATE WILDLIFE AND HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID WILD ANIMALS, KEEP PETS LEASHED AND GET THEIR RABIES SHOT

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NM Department of Wildlife warns of aggressive wildlife behavior

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

Updated: 6:42 PM MDT Apr 8, 2026

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Editorial Standards

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County. According to the department, in different incidents, a bobcat and a fox approached and engaged with hikers and campers within the Gila Wilderness. Though nobody was bitten, these reports raise suspicion of rabies infections and come after a bobcat tested positive for rabies in Sierra County in March.They say rabies has been diagnosed in both bobcats and foxes in New Mexico. If you see a rabid animal, you should report it to your local animal control officer or your local New Mexico Department of Wildlife Conservation officer.The department says to keep you and your family safe from rabies:Always keep pets on a leash. Pets should be up to date on rabies vaccinations and wearing current license tags on their collar. If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild animal, call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.Horses and other livestock should also be considered for rabies vaccination to protect them from rabid animals that may attack them.Stay away from wild or unfamiliar animals. Do not attempt to feed, approach or touch wild animals (alive or dead). Teach this important message to your children and always keep a close eye on your children.If you or someone you know is bitten by an animal or comes into contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water. Be sure to report the bite to local animal control and seek medical care as soon as possible.If you or your pets are bitten or otherwise exposed to the saliva of wild animals, seek medical care immediately and contact the NMDOH Helpline at 833-SWNURSE (796-8773).

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is now urging outdoor recreationists to use caution after two separate incidents involving unusually aggressive wildlife took place in Catron County.

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According to the department, in different incidents, a bobcat and a fox approached and engaged with hikers and campers within the Gila Wilderness. Though nobody was bitten, these reports raise suspicion of rabies infections and come after a bobcat tested positive for rabies in Sierra County in March.

They say rabies has been diagnosed in both bobcats and foxes in New Mexico. If you see a rabid animal, you should report it to your local animal control officer or your local New Mexico Department of Wildlife Conservation officer.

The department says to keep you and your family safe from rabies:

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  • Always keep pets on a leash. Pets should be up to date on rabies vaccinations and wearing current license tags on their collar. If your cat or dog has been bitten or scratched, especially by a wild animal, call your pet’s veterinarian even if the wound is superficial.
  • Horses and other livestock should also be considered for rabies vaccination to protect them from rabid animals that may attack them.
  • Stay away from wild or unfamiliar animals. Do not attempt to feed, approach or touch wild animals (alive or dead). Teach this important message to your children and always keep a close eye on your children.
  • If you or someone you know is bitten by an animal or comes into contact with an animal’s saliva, wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water. Be sure to report the bite to local animal control and seek medical care as soon as possible.
  • If you or your pets are bitten or otherwise exposed to the saliva of wild animals, seek medical care immediately and contact the NMDOH Helpline at 833-SWNURSE (796-8773).

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Oregon

Governor signs bill to help Oregon farm stands flourish; chief sponsor Breese-Iverson celebrates improvements

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Governor signs bill to help Oregon farm stands flourish; chief sponsor Breese-Iverson celebrates improvements


PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek joined Oregon farmers, advocates, and legislators at Topaz Farms on Sauvie Island on Wednesday to commemorate the signing of House Bill 4153, a bill from this year’s legislative session that protects existing farm stand permits and gives farmers new options to support the long-term success of their farms.

“Oregon’s family farms are the backbone of our rural economies, and this bill will help them adapt and succeed,” Kotek said. “This new law gives certainty to farmers who diversify their revenues through agritourism and on-site sales while still preserving and honoring the farmlands that make Oregon special.”

The law creates an optional permit for farms that want to open a small farm store on land zoned for farming. It also provides clearer guidelines for agritourism activities such as farm tours, educational exhibits, hayrides, and seasonal events while ensuring these uses serve as a supplement to farming activities, not a replacement.

“Agriculture collectively provides the largest economic impact to Oregon. It is the foundation of our state,” said the bill’s chief sponsor, state Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville). “This bill is a true example of what happens when ag champions come together for the industry and Oregonians. Signing HB 4153 into law secures a future for family farms in Oregon.”

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Breese-Iverson said the new permit overcomes the limitations of the previous law, which in many cases could prohibit family-friendly structures, require strict income caps, and not allow educational events.

Under the new law, she said, a farm operation will be allowed to sell farm products, offer local goods from other producers, and host limited agritourism events such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes, flower festivals, and farm tours at their farm store.

The Central Oregon lawmaker says the bill gives counties modern, clear, and enforceable rules to regulate access, egress, parking, hours of operation, noise, sanitation, and public health and safety. The bill prohibits using a farm store as a residence, hotel, café, or drive-thru.

HB 4153 was developed though a robust process with a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the governor and her advisory staff, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Oregon Property Owners Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, Association of Oregon Counties, and farmers across the state.

Topaz Farm co-owner Kat Topaz said, “At a time when most of us feel helpless, everyone together made this bill happen. It would have never passed without the overwhelming support from the public.”

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“Oregonians want to connect with farms and the farmers who grow their food. So many advocates made this happen: lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Farm Bureau, the Association of Counties and of course, the governor, who has been a huge supporter from the start.”

Others who joined the ceremonial signing include state legislators and representatives from the Oregon Farm Bureau, Travel Oregon, the Oregon Property Owners Association, the Association of Oregon Counties, Plumper Farms, Frog Pond Farm, Packer Orchards, Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, and former State Senator Betsy Johnson.

Governor Kotek signed the legislation on a Topaz Farm picnic table that was surrounded by letters she received from students in Lincoln City who supported the legislation because of the enrichment opportunities available to them on farms in their region.

The law takes effect on Jan. 1, providing time for farmers and counties to learn more about the updated framework.

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Utah

Prop 4 repeal effort loses another Senate district and — so far — 10,500 backers

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Prop 4 repeal effort loses another Senate district and — so far — 10,500 backers


After failing to make the ballot, the loss of SD12 adds to the margin of defeat for a push to overturn Utah’s gerrymandering ban.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A sign at the site of signature gathering to repeal Prop 4 at Linda Vista Park in Syracuse on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.



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