Bomb squad, hazmat investigate container releasing smoke at south Sacramento bus stop
SACRAMENTO — A suspicious container caused a stir after it was found to be releasing smoke near a bus stop in the south Sacramento area late Thursday afternoon.
The container was found shortly after 3 p.m. near a bus stop in an area along Stockton Boulevard between 13th and 14th Avenues.
A Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson said its hazmat team was initially called out to investigate the container, but due to its suspicious nature, the Sacramento Police Department's explosive ordnance disposal unit was called in to assist with determining just what the item was.
The spokesperson said the item was foil-wrapped and was set on fire. The scene was cleared a few hours after it was found.
Photos from a witness in the area show the smoke coming from the container, which was lying on the ground just below the bus stop bench.
The police bomb squad first inspected the item ahead of the fire department's hazmat team to determine whether or not an explosive was inside the container, the fire department spokesperson said. An explosive was not found.
While investigators examined the container, Stockton Boulevard was closed between 13th and 14th Avene.