– By DAVID ROBINSON

Morning Sentinel

FARMINGTON – State and federal officials are investigating the detonation of a homemade explosive on a remote road Monday night.

A woman who lives on Bailey Hill Road was on her porch when she heard male voices in the distance, followed by an explosion around 8:30 p.m., said Police Chief Jack Peck.

The woman got on her all-terrain vehicle and started to follow a car that was driving away after the explosion. She saw a small item, which appeared to be on fire, thrown from the car, Peck said.

The woman reported the incident to police. Peck declined to identify her.

A town police officer found what appeared to be an “explosive device” in the road, closed the street to traffic and called in the Maine State Police bomb squad, Peck said. The squad removed the device and the road was reopened later that night.

No one was hurt in the explosion, which happened near where Davis Road connects to Bailey Hill Road, Peck said. Investigators believe whoever is behind the incident was not specifically targeting any people or property.

Peck described the item found in the road as a homemade explosive device. He referred questions to the state Fire Marshal’s Office, which is handling the investigation along with state police.

Investigators have no suspects, Sgt. Ken Grimes of the Fire Marshal’s Office said Tuesday morning.

Debris from the exploded device is being analyzed at the Portland office of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Grimes said it could have been anything from “an actual explosive device classified as a pipe bomb” to fireworks.

Morning Sentinel Staff Writer David Robinson can be contacted at 861-9287 or at:

drobinson@centralmaine.com