{"id":318637,"date":"2025-10-20T13:24:23","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T13:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/318637\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T13:24:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T13:24:23","slug":"how-safe-plan-to-fire-munitions-over-i-5-went-off-the-rails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/318637\/","title":{"rendered":"How \u2018safe\u2019 plan to fire munitions over I-5 went off the rails"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was supposed to be a boisterous event at Camp Pendleton celebrating 250 years of the U.S. Marine Corps that included a live simulation of a beach assault by sea and air.<\/p>\n

The plan involved Marines firing high explosive rounds from M777 Howitzers \u2014 artillery used to launch shells in wars in Afghanistan and Ukraine \u2014 into designated ranges. Federal officials last week insisted it would be done with \u201call safety precautions in place\u201d<\/a> and said no public highways would be closed<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But California officials expressed fears about those live rounds being fired over Interstate 5, which runs between the beach where the \u201clanding\u201d was taking place and the rest of the sprawling military installation.<\/p>\n

Then, on Friday evening, the Marines did a test run without notifying state officials, firing artillery rounds over the I-5, according to the governor\u2019s office \u2014 all while motorists drove on the freeway. The California Department of Transportation captured the live fire on video.<\/p>\n

Early Saturday morning, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced<\/a> the closure that day of a 17-mile stretch of the interstate \u2014 from just south of San Clemente to just north of Oceanside \u2014 during the event, which an estimated 15,000 attended and included a speech by Vice President JD Vance.<\/p>\n

Now, the California Highway Patrol is reporting that a cruiser parked on an onramp of Interstate 5 was hit by falling shrapnel after an artillery round exploded midair, far earlier than intended, forcing an early end to the artillery demonstration. Although no one was hurt, the revelations raised new questions about safety issues and whether it was wise to fire live munitions over a freeway during the ceremony.<\/p>\n

The Marines announced it was investigating the incident.<\/p>\n

\"Close-up <\/p>\n

A chunk of shrapnel is seen on the hood of a California Highway Patrol vehicle amid a live-fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton.<\/p>\n

(California Highway Patrol)<\/p>\n

Here is the chain of events that led to a tumultuous day of military pride, traffic gridlock and confusion: <\/p>\n

Wednesday<\/p>\n

A report<\/a> was widely circulated saying the White House intended to shut Interstate 5 amid plans to shoot missiles from Navy warships into Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps\u2019 125,000-acre base along the coast of northern San Diego County. <\/p>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s press office responded<\/a> to the report on social media, calling the idea \u201can absurd show of force.\u201d <\/p>\n

Late Wednesday night, the Marine Corps posted a statement on X saying it intended to hold a \u201clive-fire\u201d demonstration on Saturday at Camp Pendleton and that no public highways or transportation routes would be closed. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll training events will occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols,\u201d the statement<\/a> said, adding that the White House would film the demonstration to be included in a national primetime broadcast for Nov. 9. <\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

A Ukrainian soldier hefts a 155 mm artillery shell to be fired toward Russian front-line positions in Ukraine\u2019s Donetsk region on Jan. 23.<\/p>\n

(Evgeniy Maloletka \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/p>\n

The Marine Corps said no ordnance would be fired from a Navy ship to the shore. The demonstration would involve the firing of high explosive rounds from M777 Howitzers into designated ranges, the Marine Corps said. <\/p>\n

The M777 Howitzer, used by the Marine Corps since 2005, uses 155 mm artillery rounds, meaning that each round has a diameter of about 6.1 inches. Each round weighs around 100 pounds. <\/p>\n

An Associated Press story<\/a> about 155 mm howitzers describes the artillery weapon as one of the most-requested munitions in the war in Ukraine. Each round is about 2 feet long and essentially a very big bullet, made of up a detonating fuse, projectile, propellant and primer.<\/p>\n

\"U.S. <\/p>\n

U.S. Marines fire an M777 Howitzer at Camp Pendleton in California during a December 2019 exercise.<\/p>\n

(Lance Cpl. Roxanna Ortiz \/ U.S. Marines)<\/p>\n

The rounds can be configured for different uses: They can be packed with highly explosive material, use precision guided systems, pierce armor or produce high fragmentation, the AP said. <\/p>\n

The M777 Howitzer generally has a range<\/a> of 15 miles to 25 miles.<\/p>\n

Newsom\u2019s office said that the Marine Corps on Thursday confirmed that the exercise would be conducted on training ranges, as is done routinely at the base, but not over Interstate 5. <\/p>\n

State officials had been weighing whether to close the freeway themselves \u2014 but by Thursday morning, amid the new assurances, they backed off of those plans. <\/p>\n

That afternoon, however, the federal government directed the cancellation of Amtrak and Metrolink train service along tracks that run parallel to Interstate 5 through Camp Pendleton, according to Newsom\u2019s office. <\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

State officials observed the M777 Howitzers launch shells over Interstate 5 from Red Beach on Friday. <\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Marines later said the firing was part of a dress rehearsal. <\/p>\n

\u201cM777 artillery pieces have historically been fired during routine training from land-based artillery firing points west of the I-5 into impact areas east of the interstate within existing safety protocols and without the need to close the route,\u201d the statement said. \u201cThis is an established and safe practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

The state also received a request late Friday from the event organizers that electronic bulletin boards along Interstate 5 read: \u201cOverheard fire in progress,\u201d the governor\u2019s office said. (The wording actually seen on Saturday said, \u201cLive weapons over freeway.\u201d)<\/p>\n

CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado later said in a statement that \u201cit is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAs a Marine myself, I have tremendous respect for our military partners, but my foremost responsibility is ensuring the safety of the people of California and the officers who protect them,\u201d Coronado said. <\/p>\n

The CHP is not aware of live fire occurring over Interstate 5 in the past, a spokesperson said. <\/p>\n

Late Friday night, referring to a report that the military did, in fact, plan to fire live artillery over Interstate 5 after all, Newsom on X called the plans \u201ca profoundly absurd show of force that could put Californians directly in harm\u2019s away.\u201d <\/p>\n