Discovery of 2 Bomb Casings Prompts Playa Vista Evacuation

The discovery of a pair of World War II-era bomb casings by a Playa Vista construction crew Monday caused the cancellation of classes and partial evacuation of Loyola Marymount University.

About 1,600 people were cleared from the campus after workers unearthed two, 9-foot-long pointed cylinders while clearing dirt near the intersection of Jefferson and Lincoln boulevards. The rusty, brown casings were found about 8 a.m. at the base of the Westchester Bluffs, about 300 yards below the campus and less than half a mile from homes.

Military officials who examined them determined that they did not appear to pose a danger and were safe to move, said Cmdr. Mark Leap of the Los Angeles Police Department. The casings, each estimated to weigh 1,000 to 2,000 pounds, were later loaded into trucks headed for Ft. Irwin, near Barstow.

“They looked like big pieces of pipe, but once we saw the shape

Authorities speculated that the casings were training props. “We understand the military did some training on that property during World War II,” said Capt. Ken Hillman of the LAPD’s Pacific Division. “They were probably just left behind and buried over.”

One of the casings appeared to be filled with concrete, Hillman said, and the other lacked a fuse or propeller.

As a precaution, authorities closed parts of Jefferson Boulevard throughout the afternoon. Dozens of construction workers also were evacuated from the area, as was a community center and two condominiums on Pacific Promenade, with residents receiving escorts to retrieve pets. Residents of an additional 400 condominiums and apartments were not allowed to return to their homes by car until early evening.

“I’m worried about my golden retriever,” said Sandra Mays, a resident of the Crescent Park apartments. She was later able to contact her building’s maintenance man, who removed her dog.

Evacuation centers were set up during the day at Fountain Park Recreation Center and the Westchester Park gymnasium. A separate center for Loyola students was opened on campus. Loyola officials passed out fliers about class cancellations to students, some of whom were blocked from returning to dorms, said Carolyn Quinn, a 19-year-old sophomore and news editor for the campus newspaper.

Some students took advantage of the situation to play Frisbee, she said. The four dorms were reopened shortly after 7 p.m. “Classes are on for Tuesday,” said James Grant, a Loyola spokesman.

Federal officials were expected to spend Monday evening using radar to search for additional metal devices.

“Nothing like this has ever been found before,” said Steve Soboroff, president of developer Playa Vista. “If it’s a systemic problem, we’ll find out very soon.”

That possibility concerned Glenda Novotny, who lives in one of the evacuated apartment buildings and works nearby. “It’s definitely scary,” she said. “My life’s right here.”

The casings are the latest discovery at the construction site, where a dense, planned community is being built between Marina del Rey and Westchester.

Playa Vista officials have refused a request by the state’s Native American Heritage Commission to stop excavating near Centinela Creek, where workers uncovered a 200-year-old Indian cemetery.

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Times staff writer Julie Tamaki contributed to this report.