Hazmat scare prompts evacuation at Inglewood courthouse

INGLEWOOD (CNS) - A hazmat scare prompted the evacuation of the Inglewood courthouse Monday.

Firefighters were called to the courthouse at 1 E. Regent St. at 2:41 p.m. after someone was reported to have been burned by an envelope containing white powder, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A hazardous materials team was summoned and the building, which initially had only its second floor cleared, was completely evacuated, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Randall Wright said.

The department later reported that one person was being treated at the scene and 14 others required decontamination.

Tests conducted by a sheriff's hazmat team and county fire department investigators determined there was no hazardous substance at the courthouse, the sheriff's department reported about 5:25 p.m.

By then, the person who was being treated for possible exposure to the substance had been taken to a hospital for evaluation, Deputy Juanita Navarro-Sanchez of the Sheriff's Information Bureau said.

It was not immediately clear what the substance was, but it was deemed to be no threat, according to a fire department dispatcher.