Bomb squad neutralizes flaming device near Cannon pool

Bomb squad technicians neutralized an improvised incendiary device that was on fire near the Cannon Aquatic Center early this morning. Spokane police spokeswoman Monique Cotton said police were called just before 1 a.m. for a report of someone trying to hop the fence into the pool area of the park, in the 1900 block of West Maxwell Avenue. Cotton said the caller also reported seeing sparks. Officers were not able to locate anyone, she said, but did find some sort of object on a park bench. The object was smoking when they found it and then engulfed in flames. Police backed away, set up a perimeter and called the bomb squad. The object burned for about a half hour, Cotton said, and around 3 a.m., the bomb squad moved in to extinguish the fire completely. Damage was limited to the park bench. Cotton said the technicians identified the item as an improvised incendiary device, something made with a purpose of burning for an extended period of time. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tip line at (509) 242-TIPS.