There are now breaking reports of an "air quality incident" in the Pentagon, resulting in a partial shutdown of that huge facility. We don't have a lot of details yet, but here's what we know as of this writing.
Multiple floors and corridors inside the Pentagon have been locked down and others are being evacuated due to a “hazardous materials incident,” three sources familiar and the local fire department said.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Thursday that systems within the Pentagon “have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance.”
“The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area,” Parnell said. “Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants.”
A "hazardous materials incident" covers a wide range of possibilities.
Responses are rolling:
The Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s hazardous materials response team is responding to the incident with the assistance of the Arlington County Fire Department, according to the department spokesperson Capt. Jamie Jill. A post on social media from the Arlington Fire & EMS said Arlington County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team is operating at the Pentagon “during a hazardous materials incident.”
A message sent by the Pentagon’s security team said an “air quality issue” had been detected and additional testing is needed.
“This additional testing could take one to two hours. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants if necessary. You may observe response personnel from multiple agencies and precautionary measures taking place in the center courtyard. Please do not interpret these activities,” the message said.
Fox News is reporting that some materials have been found and are being tested. There are no indications as to the nature of the material, even whether it is gas, liquid, or solid.
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This could well be a malfunction of some sort in the affected area, or it could be a serious event.
As of this writing, there has been no official comment from the War Department or the White House.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned - we will be bringing you updates as events warrant.
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