Fire Chief: White powder found at Nevada Supreme Court determined to be non-hazardous
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 01/16/2014 - 1:08pm
UPDATE: Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi reports the powdery substance found in a package on the second floor of the Nevada Supreme Court Building on Thursday is non-hazardous.
He said the two office workers who were isolated have not displayed any symptoms associated with poisoning. As soon as the fire department completes its investigation the matter will be turned over to law enforcement.
The substance was sent inside a letter package and claimed to be anthrax, authorities said.
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UPDATE: Two people potentially exposed to a powdery substance that was found in a package in the second floor of the Nevada Supreme Court building in Carson City this afternoon remain under quarantine inside.
"They've been isolated to a room adjacent to the room where the substance was opened," said Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi. "The two individuals potentially exposed appear to be doing fine."
A HAZMAT crew with the Carson CIty Fire Department will move into the building to do preliminary tests of the substance, said Giomi. The team can do a lab preview to make a non-definitive test of the substance, which can preliminarily confirm what the substance is, he said.
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Carson City sheriff's officers are investigating the discovery of an envelope that contained white powder that was opened by a secretary of a Nevada State law library inside the Supreme Court building. The building has been evacuated.
Law officers from several agencies are in the area of 201 South Carson Street, the Nevada Supreme Court building and law library. Investigators have set up a command center at Third and South Stewart streets. The report came into dispatch shortly before 1 p.m.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said that a substance of unknown origin was opened in the mail and there was a suggestion, later identified as a note, that it was of a possible anthrax origin. The floor was immediately evacuated and law enforcement was called.
An evacuation is underway at this time. The Nevada Highway Patrol, Capitol Police, and the Carson City Fire Department are all responding and the FBI has been notified. Furlong said those who have been in the area of the of the contamination have been identified. The Carson City Fire Department will use a HAZMAT crew to test the substance.
Stewart Street in back of the building is being re-routed at Third Street. Evacuees are being ordered to the Capitol Building lawn area.
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