An incident at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in South Austin caused concern on Friday when employees were exposed to an unknown substance from a package, prompting a response from local emergency services. According to FOX 7 Austin, the call to officials occurred at approximately 1:39 p.m., after opening a package sent an alarm through the facility. The Austin Police Department (APD), Fire Department (AFD), and Austin-Travis County EMS were all swiftly on the scene.
Upon their arrival, first responders found themselves attending to 28 individuals who were in the proximity when the package was opened, with the package causing a stir among the workers. FOX 7 Austin reports that only one person needed evaluation and treatment on-site for non-life-threatening complaints. While the APD located an additional package, it led to evacuating the room found in. Officers said the substance will undergo testing out of an abundance of caution, despite not appearing hazardous.
The uncertainty around the substance led to extensive safety precautions. "The building was secured and cleared," the APD stated before 5 p.m., as per KXAN. The AFD Special Operations crew, while investigating, discovered a second package that prompted additional evacuation efforts in another room. Although initial observations suggested the contents were non-threatening, measures to verify the substance's safety are underway.
This facility, hosting a variety of federal offices, including the U.S. Treasury Department, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), and an IRS service center, alongside a childcare wing for federal workers, was previously listed as disposal by the Government Services Administration earlier in the year, according to KXAN. The situation caught the FBI's attention, responding to the scene with other partner agencies under standard protocols. The investigation into the nature of the packages and the substance remains ongoing, with updates expected as more information is made available.
