Item believed to be IED turns out to be piece of equipment from gas company

An item initially believed to be an improvised explosive device (IED) was later found to be a piece of equipment to a gas main, Monday afternoon in Humboldt.
On Oct. 24, at approximately 2:05 p.m., members of Humboldt County Conservation found an item that appeared to be an IED located at the base of the natural gas main located near the intersection of 3rd Avenue South and Gotch Park Road.
After a brief investigation at the scene by the Humboldt Police Department and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the area was blocked off and special agents with the State Fire Marshal Division responded to investigate the item.
It was determined that the item was property of MidAmerican Energy. The item had not been reattached properly to the gas main. It was determined there was no threat to the community.
The Humboldt Police Department was assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshal Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Humboldt County Conservation and the city of Humboldt Street Department.