Beachgoer Retrieves Live Navy MK25 Phosphorus Marker from California Shore

Authorities responded after a person in Ojai retrieved a Navy MK25 phosphorus marine marker that had drifted onto a Ventura County beach and brought it home. The marker, designed to produce bright smoke and flames for naval navigation, can reach temperatures of up to 3,000 °F and contains toxic phosphorus that may reignite once dried. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, aided by Navy explosive experts from Point Mugu, warned that even wet, expended markers remain dangerous.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has also encountered comparable devices in recent weeks, attributing the surge to powerful storms, including remnants of Hurricane Marie and swells from Hurricane Polo, as well as broader El Niño conditions. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a precautionary state of emergency for coastal communities. Officials urged the public to leave any suspicious objects untouched, evacuate the area, and call 911.