On Thursday, several floors of the Pentagon experienced lockdowns for hours as hazmat teams responded to what was ultimately determined to be a false alarm.
The Arlington County Fire Department announced on social media Thursday morning that their emergency units, including the hazardous materials team, were assisting the PFPA’s Hazmat Team in addressing a supposed hazardous materials incident at the Pentagon.
However, sources later confirmed that the hazmat response was triggered by a false alarm.
By Thursday afternoon, employees were awaiting clearance as hazmat teams worked diligently to identify the cause of the alert.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that a shelter-in-place order was enacted for the affected areas. He explained that the Pentagon’s advanced systems had “identified an air quality concern, prompting precautionary measures until its severity could be assessed.”
Two sources verified that some floors were evacuated, while others were instructed to remain sheltered in place.
The Pentagon Force Protection Agency put out an email to Pentagon personnel shortly before 11 a.m. ET to shelter in place, specifically in corridors 4,5,6 and 7 from floors 2-5. All staff were told to comply with the directive. Staff were told to move in person meetings to virtual meetings.
