An incendiary device burned on a bench early Wednesday outside the A.M. Cannon Aquatic Center in Spokane.

Police say the incident began when a neighbor called 911 about 1 a.m. to report someone trying to cut through a fence around the center.

When officers arrived they saw the object on the bench smoke and burst into flames.

KXLY reports ( http://bit.ly/ZZK3b5) it burned for 30 minutes until firefighters put it out with a hose.

Sgt. Dean Sprague says the device had great potential to harm people at the city Parks and Recreation facility.

A bomb squad made sure the device was neutralized about 3 a.m. and confirmed it was an improvised incendiary device.

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Information from: KXLY-TV, http://www.kxly.com/