A Defense Department spokesman said there was “no hazard” present at the iconic Pentagon building after an air-quality alert earlier on Thursday prompted a shelter-in-place order for part of the iconic building.
“Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. “Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed.”
The Defense Department said earlier that it was investigating the “significance” of the air quality issue. Hazardous materials crews and emergency medical teams descended on the sprawling five-sided building.
One of the world’s largest office buildings with about 6.5 million square feet of office space, the Pentagon sits near the banks of the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia.
It was struck during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and maintains heightened security measures even during peacetime. More than 25,000 people work there.
Arlington County Fire Department earlier said it was helping with what it called a “hazardous materials incident,” according to spokesperson Capt. Jamie Jill.