VIDEO: Suspected Device was Not a Bomb

VIDEO UNDER STORY

A Secretary of State Police bomb squad Thursday determined that what was believed to be a homemade explosive device in an empty home on the city's south side was not a bomb.

Authorities were called to the home at 200 West Eiche around 3pm.  A local bank had taken ownership of the house, which had been empty since the death of the occupant more than a year ago.  The bank had hired a crew to secure and winterize the house.  Crew members found a pile of debris and found the suspected explosive device in the pile. 

The device was later identified as a homemade fire detector.

Dennis Coffman, who heads the crew, contacted city police and several units responded to the scene.  Effingham Police Chief Mike Schutzbach said once the situation was addressed, he left an officer on scene to secure the house and one fire engine on scene as a precautionary move. 

Schutzbach said it appeared no one had been in the house since the occupant's death.