Part of the Pentagon under shelter-in-place over detected ‘air quality issue’

Part of the Pentagon is under a shelter-in-place after an “air quality issue” was detected Thursday, the chief Pentagon spokesman told WTOP.

In a social media post, Arlington County Fire and EMS said the department’s hazardous materials team is working alongside the Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s hazmat team on a “hazardous materials incident.”

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell told WTOP the Pentagon is taking precautionary measures after a system flagged an unspecified problem with the air quality.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants,” Parnell wrote in an email to WTOP.

“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. Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants.”

This is a developing story. Stay with WTOP for the latest.

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