PELHAM, N.H. (AP) – Maybe he was spring cleaning. Or maybe it was just curiosity that led a Pelham man to bring a World War II-era artillery shell to the local fire department for disposal.

The 39-year-old man couldn’t confirm the 22-inch shell was safe Wednesday, so the fire department was evacuated, a street was closed off and a bomb squad was brought in.

Bomb technicians determined that the shell, which was from the U.S. Navy, was stable and took it away to be destroyed at a later time. The man said it was a souvenir and he had owned it for a long time.

The Pelham Fire Department issued a statement asking people to avoid handling such souvenirs if they find one.