Investigation over in All Souls Church scare
The Fort Myers Fire Department Hazmat Team has concluded the investigation into a Wednesday morning scare at All Souls Church in North Fort Myers over.
Around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, over 150 people were evacuated during a homeless veteran’s weekly lunch.
No evidence of a specific substance or a person of interest could be determined.
Rescue workers were summoned to the Church on N. Cleveland Ave. when several individuals reported respiratory problems and the building was evacuated, said North Fort Myers Fire Chief Terry Pye, who had been spearheading response to the incident.
“The call came in at 11:06 a.m.,” said Terry Pye. “Several people were having respiratory problems.”
Sara Cacciolfi is from Lee County Homeless Veterans, and organizes the lunch each week. “Several people in line [for food] were sneezing and coughing and their eyes were watering, like they inhaled pepper, but it wasn’t everyone.”
She said she herself had no symptoms. “But we got everyone outside.”
By 11:35 a.m., it was reported that eight people had been taken to an area hospital, but later in the day, it was noted by officials that three had not been transported to a hospital, and said they felt fine after a brief period.
There were then reports that a contaminant was on the grounds. “There was a suspicious white powder found in the building, and no one from the church could verify how it got there. We called in the City Of Fort Myers Hazmat Team who tested the substance. It was determined that it was either a construction adhesive or a cleaning agent. It would not cause those symptoms,” said Chief Pye.
Early on, there were unconfirmed reports that someone someone had sprayed pepper spray or mace into the air ducts, but that theory was also ruled out.
“But if you get a roomful of people, five of them get sick, it’s a red flag,” said Pye of the evacuation.
If someone did spray mace into the air, a few people near the discharge could get these symptoms, Pye said, although that cannot be substantiated.
“We turned the church back over to the pastor,” Pye said.
Investigation over in All Souls Church scare
The Fort Myers Fire Department Hazmat Team has concluded the investigation into a Wednesday morning scare at All Souls Church in North Fort Myers over.
Around 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, over 150 people were evacuated during a homeless veteran’s weekly lunch.
No evidence of a specific substance or a person of interest could be determined.
Rescue workers were summoned to the Church on N. Cleveland Ave. when several individuals reported respiratory problems and the building was evacuated, said North Fort Myers Fire Chief Terry Pye, who had been spearheading response to the incident.
“The call came in at 11:06 a.m.,” said Terry Pye. “Several people were having respiratory problems.”
Sara Cacciolfi is from Lee County Homeless Veterans, and organizes the lunch each week. “Several people in line [for food] were sneezing and coughing and their eyes were watering, like they inhaled pepper, but it wasn’t everyone.”
She said she herself had no symptoms. “But we got everyone outside.”
By 11:35 a.m., it was reported that eight people had been taken to an area hospital, but later in the day, it was noted by officials that three had not been transported to a hospital, and said they felt fine after a brief period.
There were then reports that a contaminant was on the grounds. “There was a suspicious white powder found in the building, and no one from the church could verify how it got there. We called in the City Of Fort Myers Hazmat Team who tested the substance. It was determined that it was either a construction adhesive or a cleaning agent. It would not cause those symptoms,” said Chief Pye.
Early on, there were unconfirmed reports that someone someone had sprayed pepper spray or mace into the air ducts, but that theory was also ruled out.
“But if you get a roomful of people, five of them get sick, it’s a red flag,” said Pye of the evacuation.
If someone did spray mace into the air, a few people near the discharge could get these symptoms, Pye said, although that cannot be substantiated.
“We turned the church back over to the pastor,” Pye said.