Posted on: Wednesday, October 17, 2001
FBI investigating anthrax scare as likely hoax
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
The FBI is investigating as a federal offense an apparent hoax delivery of a mysterious powder at the Coral Creek Golf Course in 'Ewa yesterday.
Although the material had not yet been tested, officials said they believed the envelope containing the powder may have been left by a disgruntled employee taking advantage of the anthrax scare sweeping the nation.
The envelope contained a message saying that anyone who opened it would be in danger.
The 27-year-old female worker who opened it showed it to five co-workers, guaranteeing they also would have to be decontaminated. Then, distraught, she hugged a fireman who was interviewing her, assuring he also was sent to St. Francis Medical Center West for a decontamination shower and examination, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said.
The golf course remained open.
To cope with the onslaught of calls, HFD yesterday created two hazardous-materials assessment teams, using a total of six firefighters working 12 hours a day.
Soo said the assessment teams would respond to cases in which there was a suspicion about a package or situation, but in which no suspected material had been opened or exposed.
This was after HFD response teams handled 27 cases Monday.
The new assessment teams are made up of firefighters volunteering for the assignment. Some 183 of the department's 1,100 personnel have sufficient training in hazardous materials, Soo said.
By 8 last night on O'ahu, cases requiring Civil Defense coordination included 13 investigated by HFD, nine responses by emergency medical services, and 21 cases for the police, Civil Defense spokesman John Cummings said.
They included discovery of a plastic bag of powder on the floor of the Satellite City Hall at Ala Moana Center, but more often were mysterious packages or smells, the latter usually turning out to be mosquito insecticide sprayed to avoid dengue fever.
On the Big Island, 24 people were isolated at Kohala High School after a white powdery substance was found in an envelope opened in the counselor's office at about 11:15 a.m. Tests indicated the material did not contain hazardous biological materials, Capt. Dennis Iyo said.
On Kaua'i, police and firefighters yesterday responded to two calls involving suspicious mail. One concerned a letter delivered to a West Kaua'i address, the other a golf magazine containing a powder determined not dangerous.
Meanwhile, the airport branch of the Lihu'e Post Office remained closed after a white powder was found coming from a package there Monday. The Haleko Road office of a State Farm insurance firm, where a letter was found with white powder Monday, remained closed as well. In both cases, officials were awaiting results of tests before reopening the offices.
Some postal workers yesterday wore gloves and face masks while handling mail, spokeswoman Nancy Wong said.
Yesterday, officials briefed postal workers again on safety precautions.
"Everyone is being a little more calm today," Wong said.
Staff writer Jan TenBruggencate contributed to this report.
