SKOWHEGAN — No additional suspicious materials were found after two packets of unidentified and possibly dangerous material were found Thursday afternoon in the Skowhegan Municipal Building and Police Department.

The building was evacuated and searched after two packets were found in the basement, where the Police Department is housed.

Officials were concerned that the material could be explosives, and they are being tested.

A sergeant from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, a state police explosives dog and handler, and local firefighters and police responded to the report at the Water Street building about 3:45 p.m., according to Skowhegan Town Manager Christine Almand.

Police Chief Ted Blais said earlier in the evening the material was not a bomb. Almand said police were waiting for an explosives technician to arrive to determine what the material is.

“We didn’t want to take any chances,” Blais said.

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Almand said the material was discovered during routine house cleaning around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The building and parking lot were evacuated at 3:45 p.m. The municipal offices usually close at 4:30 p.m.

There was no explosion or fire, and no one was hurt.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Doug_Harlow


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