Pentagon lifts shelter-in-place order after ’air quality issue’ deemed false alarm

A shelter-in-place order issued by the Pentagon Thursday due to an “air quality issue” ended after it was deemed a false alarm, Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell said.

“Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation. Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed,” Parnell said in a statement.

“We express our sincere appreciation to the first responders for their swift actions to ensure the safety of all personnel.”

In announcing the shelter-in-place order earlier, Parnell said in a statement that “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.”

An email sent to Pentagon employees Thursday morning and obtained by MS NOW instructed those “between corridors 4 through 7, on floors 2-5, A-E rings” to remain in place until test results are received, which could take up to two hours. The E-ring of the Pentagon houses the offices of some of the highest-ranking U.S. military officials.