NY Hazmat Team Called for Pet Urine Neutralizer at Post Office

March 10, 2020

Although Syracuse firefighters determined it posed no threat, a package containing a chemical used on pet urine forced the evacuation of a post office building and sent two people to the hospital.

By Patrick Lohmann

Source Syracuse Media Group, N.Y.

Syracuse, NY, Fire Department's hazardous material team responded to a 9-1-1 call about a potentially toxic package that caused the evacuation of a city post office building Monday.

SYRACUSE, NY—Pet urine neutralizer was the hazardous material that forced a building-wide evacuation Monday and sent two post office employees to the hospital for evaluation, according to the Syracuse Fire Department.

The chemical was not hazardous, but post office employees were worried it was dangerous and reported minor breathing issues, according to the fire department. The post office on the 2500 block of James Street was evacuated, in addition to the other businesses that share its building.

A hazardous material team determined the package, which was sent to a post office box at the James Street address, posed no risk. It had ceased to emit an odor by the time firefighters donned in haz-mat suits had entered the office, fire officials said.

Two employees were transported to a hospital for difficulty breathing. Paramedics also evaluated one customer at the office, but the customer was not transported to the hospital. The call came in around 10:56 a.m.

The office was turned back over to reopen to the United States Postal Service, according to the fire department.

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