Feb. 20–Employees at ABC30 near downtown Fresno were evacuated from their building Tuesday morning by firefighters after two people reported feeling ill when they came in contact with a suspicious envelope.
A hazmat team from the fire department evaluated the incident and determined that there was no immediate threat after the employees spent about an hour on the street outside their workplace.
Michael Alforque of the department said the two workers complained of fumes coming from the package, which contained about “three pages of writing.” Alforque said the firefighters, who were wearing breathing devices, could not smell the fumes but determined that it was safe for workers to go back inside. The package was sealed in plastic and turned over to police for additional evaluation.
The two employees chose not to go to a hospital for additional evaluation, and stayed on scene.
Fresno police said the letter was sent by a female inmate at Chowchilla Women’s Facility. The handwritten letter was about a gas leak at the prison that she had complained about, and she included the prison’s response that the gas smell was from a heater being shut off for repairs.
“We documented it as a general incident report and not a crime report,” Lt. Mark Hudson said.
Reporter Lewis Griswold contributed to this story. Jim Guy: 559-441-6339, @jimguy27
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