What was feared to be a homemade explosive devise left at the town office Thursday morning, July 7 and forced the evacuation of the Woolwich Municipal Building turned out to be altered consumer grade fireworks.

Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel A. Merry said the investigation is continuing to determine where the fireworks came from and why they were left at the park.  He said anyone who may have information should contact Investigator Mary MacMaster at the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 626-3870.

The Sagadahoc County Regional Communications Center received a call from the Woolwich Fire Department reporting a suspicious explosive device had been left at the town office, a building shared with the fire department on Nequasset Road.

Fire Chief Mike Demers told the Wiscasset Newspaper around mid-morning a woman who didn’t give her name brought what looked like an explosive into the town office; she said she’d found it in the park. Nequasset Park is located behind the municipal building. The town office contacted Demers, who photographed it and sent the image to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

“They instructed me to remove it from the building and evacuate the premises,” Chief Demers said. The fire department closed Nequasset Road in front of the town office and part of George Wright Road.

The Maine State Police dispatched an officer from its Bomb/Explosive Unit. The officer arrived around 12:40 p.m.

Upon further investigation, the package was determined to be “a distressed consumer grade polytechnic bundle that had been altered,” according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

“Proper protective protocols were followed in the best interest of public safety. Unless you are completely sure of what you are dealing with, you have to exercise due caution,” added Sheriff Merry.

The sheriff’s office said the fireworks were removed from the scene to be properly disposed of. The town office was reopened at approximately 1:15 p.m.

“If people do find something like this, they shouldn’t touch it or attempt to move it. They need to contact police or the fire department,” Chief Demers added.

Information for disposing of unused or old fireworks can be found at the Office of State Fire Marshal website at www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/fireworks/index.html.