COEUR d’ALENE — Authorities disposed of explosives found in a basement Thursday, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

Around 12:15 p.m., demolition crews working at a property in the 1000 block of East Lakeside Avenue discovered a safe in the basement of the residence. Inside the safe, police said, a project manager found about 6 pounds of electronic blasting caps. 

The items were transported to the police department for disposal. 

“Due to uncertainty about their condition, officers secured the blasting caps in the lobby and immediately evacuated those nearby to a safe distance,” said a news release issued by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. 

Police alerted local businesses and closed the street in front of the police department. Ramsey Elementary entered a safety hold as a precautionary measure. 

The Spokane Police Department’s bomb squad responded to the police department and took custody of the blasting caps for disposal. 

“Occasionally, community members come across explosive materials that have been stored and forgotten over time,” the Coeur d’Alene Police Department said in a news release. “If you encounter anything suspicious that you believe could be explosive, please leave it in place and contact the police department. Officers will come to your location and take the appropriate safety measures to ensure the item is made safe and properly disposed of.”