Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on April 8. An air quality issue related to a hazardous materials incident has caused multiple floors to be locked down at the Pentagon on Thursday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
The Pentagon lockdown was lifted Thursday afternoon after an air quality issue related to a hazardous materials incident caused multiple floors to be locked down.
“Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation,” Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. “Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed.”
“We express our sincere appreciation to the first responders for their swift actions to ensure the safety of all personnel,” Parnell said.
Some areas of the Pentagon were evacuated after its systems detected an air quality issue.
Lockdowns happened on floors two through five in corridors four through seven.
“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants,” Parnell said Thursday morning.
“Those systems 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.”
The Pentagon Force Protection Agency had a hazardous materials response team on the scene along with the Arlington County Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team, department spokesperson Capt. Jamie Jill said.
More than 25,000 people work inside the Pentagon. Its floor space is more than 6 million square feet and it covers 583 acres. Its corridors stretch more than 17 miles.
This week in Washington
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena is seen as preparations continue for the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
