'Hazardous materials incident' causes lockdown, evacuation at Pentagon
by Joe Fisher · UPIJune 11 (UPI) -- An air quality issue related to a hazardous materials incident has caused multiple floors to be locked down at the Pentagon on Thursday.
Some areas of the Pentagon are being evacuated after its systems detected an air quality issue.
Lockdowns are taking place 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," said Sean Parnell, Pentagon spokesman. "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 has 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 a land area of 583 acres. Its corridors stretch more than 17 miles.
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