OR: Warning issued about military markers washing up on beaches - red & white phosphorus severe burn hazard

[Emily]

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/10/military_marine_markers_washin.html

Military marine markers washing up on Oregon coast spark alert
By The Oregonian
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on October 07, 2013 at 3:10 PM, updated October 07, 2013 at 4:23 PM
...
People walking the beach near Depoe Bay, Newport and Florence each found a Mark 25 Marine Marker in the last week and contacted authorities, police said. No one was hurt.

To find three in such a short time is "very unusual," police said in a statement. It's more typical to get one report a month, they said...

One a month must be the 'new normal' since 2010:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Foregon.surfrider.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F10%2FMark-25-Marine-Markers-Officer-Safety.pdf&ei=ZyVeUsO6EsW_igKjzoGgCw&usg=AFQjCNFD468oJIvkAKJeUdefQQPIxKxOCQ&bvm=bv.54176721,d.cGE&cad=rja

Oregon State Police Bulletin
Officer Safety
Military Marine Markers
Issue Date: December 8, 2010 Bulletin Number: 2010-014 Expiration Date: None
Mark 25 Markers (Modifications 2, 3 and 4)
Approximately 3? diameter and 18? long
MARINE PHOSPHOROUS MARKERS
Recently, there has been an increase in the number
of these found along the Oregon Coast line.
These can be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. If a
marking device is encountered, DO NOT TOUCH,
secure the area for 100 feet in every direction and
call the Oregon State Police Explosives Unit or the
142nd Air Force EOD out of Portland.
- There are several different varieties, most are
about 3? x 18? and are unfinished aluminum.
There will be markings on them which read, in
effect, the identifier numbers and hazards.
- If the markings are worn off by handling,
abrasive sand, etc., identification can be very
difficult.
- Still contains white phosphorous, or red
phosphorous. (Even after they have appeared to
have been expended)
- After rolling around in the ocean, the seals are
generally compromised and can rupture. If the
casing is ruptured, the contents can spontaneously
ignite and cause very severe injuries and/or death...

Mk25 Marine Marker

The Mk25 Marine Marker is a method used in sea-surface reference-point marking that calls for both smoke and flame. It has a variety of applications, such as charting the course of enemy submarines, locating a survivor during search and rescue operations, locating target areas in antisubmarine warfare or determining wind direction and velocity. It can be launched by hand or by sonobuoy launcher from either aircraft or surface ships...

A woman in CA was badly burned last year by red phosphorus that had coated some beach rocks there:
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=457915