Paris Fire, Police, and EMS departments all responded to a hazmat incident Monday morning just before 11 a.m. to the Shoe Dept. store in the Paris Towne Center on Lamar Ave.
When news broke, Paris police assisted firefighters in creating a safe barrier at the store’s entrance. Paris EMS crews worked with firefighters as they assessed customers and staff inside the store.
“When the officers arrived, they learned that a suspicious package was hand-delivered to a store, and upon opening the package, two employees developed a skin rash and began to itch. The package contained a note that was not threatening to anyone or in any way but did ramble on numerous things,” said Paris Police Department Public Information Officer Curtis Garrett.
The Regional Hazmat Team, based out of the Paris Fire Department also responded and began the build of a decontamination station at the back of the building with the help of Paris EMS crews. Everyone who was in the building or entered the building had to go through decontamination for safety protocol.
“The two employees were transported to PRMC for treatment. Other employees and patrons were in the store at the time of the exposure but were not affected,” said Garrett.
Paris firefighters will remain on the scene and have conducted preliminary investigations within the store, including radiation testing, and multi-gas gas testing. All testing came back normal.
Paris police have also stationed at the front of the building to ensure that the public stays clear of the roped-off area.
Paris officials are now waiting for the Regional FBI official, FBI WMDA team, and the Postal Inspector to further investigate what transpired.
This story is still developing.
