A World War I-era artillery shell was found in a Petaluma home Monday and prompted police to close streets and evacuate residents while bomb technicians disposed of the shell, police and sheriff's officials said.

A homeowner in the 1700 block of Ely Boulevard South was cleaning out their residence this afternoon after a tenant moved out when they found the shell had been left behind, police said.

The homeowner reported the shell at 3:35 p.m., police said.

Police and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit responded and determined that the shell was made in 1913 and was potentially dangerous, sheriff's officials said.

Authorities closed Ely Boulevard South between Caulfield Lane and Weaverly Drive and evacuated nearby residents for about five hours.

Eventually, Travis Air Base Bomb Disposal Technicians safely removed the shell from the home and the street reopened.