Pentagon Evacuated Over Hazardous Substance Incident; Later Called False Alarm
The Pentagon evacuated several floors due to an air quality issue, but the incident was later declared a false alarm.
Several floors and corridors at the Pentagon were closed and people evacuated on Thursday following a "hazardous substance incident." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the building's systems detected an air quality problem requiring precautionary measures. He stated that standard protection protocols were being followed, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area.
Hazardous materials response teams from the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, along with the Arlington County Fire Department, responded to the incident. Arlington Fire & EMS reported on social media that their hazardous materials team was operating at the Pentagon during the incident.
A message from the Pentagon Security Team indicated that additional testing was needed, which could take one to two hours. Two out of three sources reported that floors two through five were closed, while a third source said police inside the building were wearing gas masks and full chemical protective gear.
Later, CNN, citing sources, reported that the incident was a false alarm. The evacuation order was lifted after the determination.
