Black powder removed from Cincinnati home

CINCINNATI, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A Cincinnati Fire Department official said bomb technicians removed 500 pounds of black powder from a home in foreclosure.

Fire Capt. Michael Washington said the powder recovered from the house in the city's Mount Washington neighborhood was pyrodex, which can be used in ammunition, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Thursday.

Washington said after learning of the powder Wednesday, the technicians spent nearly eight hours placing the potentially dangerous materials in "bomb box vessels" for disposal.

The fire official said water had seeped into the container holding the bags of powder after the container rusted through.

"Most of the weight is due to moisture," Washington said. "Moisture makes it unstable. We have to move this stuff."

The black powder was found in the home by an individual sent by a bank to inspect the property, Washington said. It is not known what use the unidentified former homeowner had for the powder.