A Navy flare was discovered Sunday afternoon at Leelanau State Park.

Sheriff's deputies responded about 5:15 p.m. to a call from Park Ranger Al Ammons, who discovered a cylindrical medal object measuring 18 to 20 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter at an unoccupied campsite.

Although the object appeared “old and defunct” and was covered with algae, Ammons thought it better to be safe than sorry and called the Sheriff’s Department.

“It probably washed up on shore and a camper brought it up to the site and left if there,” Ammons said.

The ranger said no campsites near Lot No. 19 were occupied, so no evacuation order was issued.

“The closest camper was quite a distance from the site, so I just flagged off one end of the park and stayed there for the Sheriff’s Department,” Ammons said.

The flare, believed to have come from exercises carried out by planes from Selfridge Air Force Base in Mt. Clemens, was transported by deputies to the Coast Guard Air Station in Traverse City for inspection.

“We had great assistance from the Sheriff’s Department and our local fire department,” Ammons said. “We just wanted to ensure public safety.”