An analysis of the power on the scene determined it was acetaminophen, the main ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter pain medication,
Members of the Western Massachusetts Regional Haz-Mat team carry a mysterious powder that was recovered from the business office of the Springfield Housing Authority complex on Shaine Circle. The power was determined to be harmless.An update of this story was posted at 8:25 p.m. thursday
This is an update of a story originally published at 5:56 p.m. Thursday
SPRINGFIELD - A mysterious white powder that forced the evacuation of two buildings in an apartment complex at Shaine Circle Thursday evening was determined to be harmless, officials said.
The Western Massachusetts Regional Hazardous Materials team was called to the scene to remove the powder. An analysis of it on the scene determined it was acetaminophen, the main ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter pain medication, said Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant.
Powdered acetaminophen by itself is not dangerous, he said.
The apartment complex, off Carew Street, is part of the Springfield Housing Authority. It is next door to the Raymond Sullivan Public Safety Complex.
Resident Sixto Ayala of Unit 35 found two envelopes had been dropped through the mail slot on his front door. He opened one, found the powder, and carried the envelop over to the apartment complex's business office in Unit 30.
Both units were evacuated for more than an hour while Springfield firefighters and the regional Haz-Mat team worked to determine what the power was.
In addition, officials with the Department of Homeland Security were also dispatched to the scene. Leger said there have been at least four similar incidents in Massachusetts and Connecticut where an unknown power was delivered through the mail.
Leger said it is not clear who is responsible or it if was intended as a prank.
The incident remains under investigation.
Property manager Sonia Colon-Diaz said she called the police when Ayala brought her the powder because neither she nor Ayala knew what it was.
"We decided to be on the safe side," she said.
She said Ayala told her the envelope was not delivered as part of the mail. Someone went by his apartment and dropped it in the mail slot.