Someone’s intense and unadulterated whimsy sparked an all-out lockdown of a United States Air Force Base, an elementary school and a VA hospital in New Mexico Wednesday, yet, nary a soul exists who could ever blame them.

According to the base Thursday, the popping sounds of bubble wrap — the packing material that boasts those engaging air-filled plastic globules — was mistaken for gunshots, and a potential active shooter situation, prompting the drastic security measure.

They said someone heard “three loud bangs” and called 911.

The lockdown lasted from 2:30 pm local time to 3:15 pm.

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