Photo: CTV

A bomb scare forced the evacuation of Nanaimo's tent city over the weekend.

What appeared to be a homemade bomb was found Friday night.

A teen camper found the suspicious device and brought it to police monitoring the site.

Police cleared the area and nearby Front Street before calling in an explosive disposal unit.

Homeless people at the camp were sent to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre while the situation unfolded.

RCMP later allowed residents back to the camp after the suspect item was found to be commercial fireworks.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island