Area safe after suspicious device removed

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (WSVN) -- Residents are being allowed back in their homes after authorities deemed a reported suspicious device safe.

Hollywood Fire Rescue evacuated the area of 1500 Jefferson Street after someone notified police of a suspicious device found at that location. "Upon arrival of the hazardous material team, they identified that the threat was in need of a little bit further investigation," said Hollywood Fire Rescue Chief Joel Medina. "It looks like it may have been a type of pyrotechnics; plainly put: some large mortar-type of fireworks thing that somebody may have strapped together to get a certain kind of effect."

Neighbors in the area said, for the past few days, they have seen people playing with fireworks. "A few nights ago, about midnight, I heard kids out here with fireworks, and they were parked in front of my house," said another unidentified resident.

Authorities closed off the area for a few hours as they investigated. "The bomb squad said that they found some dynamite," said a resident.

According to Hollywood Fire, this was an amateur fireworks device that had already been set off, however they will still go ahead and send it to the FBI for testing.

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