Photo provided by Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke
Update: Residents were allowed back inside their homes about 10 p.m. Monday after Indian River County Fire Rescue crews lifted an evacuation caused by a gas odor coming from a home, Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke said. A Molotov cocktail-like item was found in front of the home.
Authorities also found two similar devices at the residence.
The St. Lucie County sheriff’s bomb squad safely removed the three items and left the scene late Monday, St. Lucie County sheriff’s officials said. Two people were taken into custody and treated for a mental health evaluation, deputies said.
The bomb squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives continue to inspect the items recovered from the home.
Earlier story
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Several homes were evacuated and a bomb squad unit was called Monday afternoon after reports of a gas odor coming from a home, authorities said.
An object similar to a Molotov cocktail – a bottle filled with flammable liquid- was found on the trunk of a car in front of the home, Indian River County sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Thom Raulen said. Raulen said deputies think the homeowner placed the object on the vehicle intentionally, but could not speculate on a motive as to why.
Indian River County Fire Rescue officials evacuated about 10 homes, Battalion Chief Kyle Kofke said. It’s unknown when the road will reopen and when residents will be allowed back inside; the St. Lucie County sheriff’s bomb squad unit was still at the scene Monday evening.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also called to the scene, Kofke said.
A suspicious substance, similar to a Molotov cocktail, was found outside a home in the 1300 block of 26th Ave SW. L.E., F.D., and bomb squad on scene. Road blocked for the next few hours. pic.twitter.com/IukqTWOsfY
— IRCSheriff (@IRCSheriff) October 1, 2018
Indian River County Fire Rescue and sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident about 3:30 p.m. Monday at a home in the 1300 block of 26th Avenue Southwest. Indian River deputies notified the St. Lucie County sheriff’s bomb squad after finding the ‘object’ at the residence, Kofke said.
Fire rescue crews evacuated homes on 26th Avenue Southwest and 26th Court Southwest, from 13th Place Southwest to 14th Street Southwest, Kofke said.
This story will be updated.
