Pentagon 'hazardous materials incident' prompts response from hazmat crews

Hazmat crews were deployed to the Pentagon on Thursday following a hazardous materials incident, which led authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order for affected areas. The Arlington County Fire Department confirmed that emergency units, including its hazardous materials team, were operating at the Pentagon in support of the PFPA's Hazmat Team.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the shelter-in-place directive, stating that sophisticated safety systems detected an air quality issue. Precautionary measures were enacted until the significance of the issue could be determined. "The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants," Parnell said.

Sources indicated that some floors required evacuation, while others were instructed to shelter in place. Pentagon personnel received an email directing them to shelter in place in specific corridors on the second to fifth floors. All staff were urged to comply, and in-person meetings were to be moved to virtual platforms. This is a developing story.

“

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.