A military reservist who returned from service in Afghanistan last year was injured along with his family when a bullet from the war exploded . A 25-year-old soldier in Lindenhurst , north of Chicago , was attempting to light a tracer round in his backyard with a blow torch when the ammunition exploded and alarmed residents on his street . Residents began calling 911 after their homes and windows began shaking from the blast at 9.45pm Saturday night . An Afghanistan reservist 's bullet that exploded in a suburban neighborhood north of Chicago was a tracer round , which are often marked by a different colored tip from other ammunition ( file photo ) The reservist and his 23-year-old sister both received 'quite a few superficial wounds , ' Lindenhurst police told the Chicago Tribune . They were released from the hospital Sunday morning and rejoined their parents , who treated their own small injuries . Tracer rounds contain a combustible compound that leaves a visible trail of the projectiles path . They can be taken out of their shells and ignited for use as flares , the likely intended outcome of Saturday 's incident . 'What he thought would happen did n't , ' Lindenhurst commander George Moravec said of the incident , which created a flash explosion . Moravec added that the reservist , who returned from Afghanistan last fall with the tracer , had a 'respected history in the military ' . Houses on the reservist 's street ( pictured ) were shaken and police are assessing to see if there was any damage . Tracer rounds ( pictured in Kobane , Syria , 2014 ) can be used as flares if removed from their shell and ignited . The exploding bullet was not illegal to own as a civilian and foul play is not expected . Police are going back to the residents to assess any damage done to property . Great Lakes Naval Air Station said they will conduct an investigation into the incident . An estimated $ 2million in damage was caused at an Indianapolis shooting range last year when a bullet believed to be a tracer round caused a fire , according to WTHR . The bullet did not explode , but is thought to have smoldered in shredded rubber tires used as a backstop .
Twenty-five-year-old reservist in Lindenhurst , Illinois tried to ignite bullet . Ammunition was a tracer round , which can be lit and used as a flare . Soldier and his 23-year-old sister received 'quite a few superficial wounds ' Neighbors began calling 911 after their windows and homes began shaking .