Suspicious Envelopes At High School Prompt HAZMAT Response

LAND O' LAKES, FL — As the Pasco County Sheriff's Office continued to investigate the origin of several envelopes containing a mysterious substance that was found Tuesday at Land O' Lakes High School, school officials found another package on Wednesday.

There were some tense moments for teachers and staff at Land O' Lakes High School Tuesday after staff found several envelopes containing a suspicious substance, according to Pasco County Fire Rescue.

On Tuesday just before 9 a.m., Pasco County Fire Rescue and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office responded to the high school after staff discovered the suspicious mail in a section of the high school that's not accessible to students.

“Out of an abundance of caution, Land O’ Lakes High School is closing for the day,” announced the Pasco County School District shortly after the discovery.

Pasco Fire Rescue called in the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Hazardous Materials Team to investigate the substance.

Donning full safety suits and headgear, dozens of Hillsborough County HAZMAT members converged on the high school, eventually determining that the substance in the envelopes wasn't hazardous

The envelopes were turned over to the sheriff's office, which was in the process of investigating the origins of the envelopes when the school found a similar envelope on Wednesday afternoon after students had been dismissed for the day.

The sheriff's office said this envelope was also located in an area where students aren't permitted and it contained the same non-hazardous substance as the envelopes found on Tuesday.

Tuesday's incident was the second time this year Hillsborough County HAZMAT was called to assist Pasco County Fire Rescue, according to Rob Herrin, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue public safety information chief.

"We are proud to have been able to help our neighbors to the north," he said. "HAZMAT calls take time and resources, as technicians don protective equipment that is unforgivingly hot. Teams enter in pairs to mitigate whatever incident command outlines in their plan. Several entries, as was the situation today, mean dozens of technicians are needed."

"We extend our deepest thanks to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for their invaluable support during this challenging incident," said Pasco County Fire Rescue Interim Public Information Officer Jeremy Sidlauskas. "Their collaboration exemplifies the spirit of unity among first responders."