A Facebook mail center was evacuated Monday because of the possible threat of sarin liquid at the facility.
A suspicious package arrived at around 11 a.m. at the Menlo Park shipping and processing warehouse near the social media company's headquarters, a Facebook spokesman told KGO-TV. Crews from Menlo Park and San Mateo County were called in, the facility's four buildings were evacuated, and hazardous materials protocols were enacted.
Sarin had been detected by a warehouse security machine during a routine check of incoming mail, Menlo Park Fire Marshal Jon Johnston told The Associated Press. The substance has not been identified, and people have been allowed back into three of the four buildings.
"Right now we don’t have anybody that has any symptoms,” Johnston added. “We’re just doing verification.”
Two people reportedly were exposed to the toxin, and they were being evaluated, a San Mateo County Fire battalion chief told KGO. A second open air test at the warehouse was negative, and officials were continuing to run tests, he added.
Along with the Menlo Park and San Mateo County fire departments, the FBI and National Guard also responded to the incident.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, sarin is "a human-made chemical warfare agent" that can be spread through liquid and vapor form.
Firehouse.com will continue to update this developing story.
