UPDATED: Fairchild Air Force Base main gate, highway 2 briefly closed due to ordnance brought to base visitor center Published Dec. 18, 2015 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- At approximately 4 p.m., Friday base security personnel closed the main gate while Washington State Troopers later closed a small section of U.S. Highway 2 outside Fairchild AFB. A cordon was established when a civilian brought a 60mm mortar round to the base visitor center parking lot in an apparent attempt to safely turn the ordnance over to Air Force officials. The 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team safely removed the device, which at the time was not confirmed to be live or inert, from the main gate area and the gate and highway were reopened to traffic at 4:50 p.m.. The mortar round, which was later found to be inert, was reportedly discovered by a local resident while he was hunting approximately two hours away from the installation. The incident is currently under investigation. Direct queries to 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs at 92arw.pa@us.af.mil or (509) 247-5705.