“Normal Operations Have Resumed” – Pentagon Lockdown Caused By False Alarm

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The Pentagon has lifted a partial lockdown that it implemented in response to a potential air quality issue.

“Hazardous Materials Incident” – Pentagon Goes Into Lockdown

“Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation. Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.

“We express our sincere appreciation to the first responders for their swift actions to ensure the safety of all personnel,” he added.

Fox News shared further:

A hazardous materials team scrubbed several locations in the Pentagon’s A ring, the center-most location in the building, according to a Pentagon official.

Approximately 23,000 to 27,000 people work in the Pentagon on any given day.

Secretary Pete Hegeth’s office and chairman of the joint chiefs Gen. Dan Caine’s office are not located in the corridors placed under lockdown.

Systems detected a problem with the air quality in part of the building and a device picked up a biohazard scent, the Pentagon source told Fox News.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants. Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance,” Parnell previously said.

“The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants,” he added.

ABC News noted:

Sources told ABC News earlier that authorities were investigating what caused a sensor to alert for a potential hazardous air quality issue at the Pentagon. Additional testing occurred to verify whether there was any hazard or if the sensor was faulty, multiple sources said.

In a message sent to Pentagon employees earlier Thursday, employees in certain corridors on select floors were urged to remain in place while awaiting testing results, which it noted could take one to two hours.

The Arlington County Fire Department said its hazardous materials team had responded to the Pentagon in support of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s Hazmat Team “during a hazardous materials incident.”