Suspicious Powder Incident

Incident Date: August 4, 2010
Issuing Officer: Joe Meinecke, Dan Crotty
Incident Location: 737 Fawcett Ave.
Incident Type: Hazardous Materials Response

At 2:20pm today, a Tacoma Fire Department engine company was dispatched to investigate a report of an unidentified powder found in a piece of mail at the Multicare administrative offices located at 737 Fawcett Ave in Tacoma.

Shortly after arrival, the engine company officer requested a full hazardous materials response. A total of 4 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 2 medic units, a hazardous materials unit and several command and safety units responded.

Firefighters evacuated 197 Multicare employees while Haz-Mat teams secured the unidentified powder for testing. Four Pierce Transit buses were called to the scene to provided shelter for the evacuated employees while several tests were conducted to determine if the powder was dangerous.

As per protocol's, the 10th Civil Support Team from Camp Murray was called to confirm the initial test results.

At approximately 7:30 p.m., testing confirmed that powder was not dangerous and the employees were released.

No one was hurt during the operation, TFD officials said.

Law enforcement is investigating the source of the package.

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