West Virginia Post Office Evacuated After Package Explodes


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RANSON, W.Va. -- A West Virginia post office has been evacuated after a package exploded and firefighters said a white powder escaped.

The Independent Fire Company in the small town of Ranson told the Hagerstown Herald-Mail that the explosion occurred at about 7:45 a.m. Friday at the Ranson Post Office.

Neither Jefferson County emergency services nor State Police would immediately comment. Ranson is in a rural area in the state's Eastern Panhandle.

Postmaster Steve Parrill told The Associated Press that employees were evacuated and State Police were on scene.

Parrill wouldn't provide details on what happened but said about 20 people work in his branch.

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I know that when I was on the road on I77NB there was a big cloud with very bad odor and it made me gag and about puke. even with the blowers and fans turned off in the car we still smelled it. it was a blueish haze....

my mom saw the same thing around charleston,wv.... not too far from where we saw this one... I've been extra itchy since and this was monday. even showered twice since then. also my throat is extra sore and I can't stomach a lot of food. I may get checked out soon. if it gets worse imma go to the ER.

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I live in the area.

There was just a pop sound and the workers saw white stuff in air. It was confirmed no explosion, no blast, and people and air inside tested fine, therre wasnt even alot of white stuff.

No idea what remix is talking about as I77 is on the other side of the state, same with Charleston

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I know that when I was on the road on I77NB there was a big cloud with very bad odor and it made me gag and about puke. even with the blowers and fans turned off in the car we still smelled it. it was a blueish haze.... my mom saw the same thing around charleston,wv.... not too far from where we saw this one... I've been extra itchy since and this was monday. even showered twice since then. also my throat is extra sore and I can't stomach a lot of food. I may get checked out soon. if it gets worse imma go to the ER.

You've only showered twice since Monday? Maybe that's the issue.

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perhaps someone was shipping flour or some other white powder in a back that erupted :p could be a simple thing and have nothing at all to do with an attack who knows.

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derm told me to shower every other day LOL....

nope it's not the issue at all since I shower as often as I usually. do.

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Powder was probably the phosphor lining the glass of the bulb.

http://www.google.co...2273c2a4b135292

W.Va. post office explosion was popping light bulb

RANSON, W.Va. (AP) ? A reported exploding package and spray of white powder that sent emergency units rushing to a small-town post office turned out to be just the pop of a malfunctioning fluorescent light bulb, authorities said Friday.

The white powder that workers at the U.S. Post Office in Ranson saw was most likely smoke from the damaged bulb, said Ronald Fletcher, a firefighter with Citizens Fire Co. and the designated incident spokesman.

X-rays also revealed that a suspicious package in a storage locker contained only cookies, he said.

The scare Friday morning triggered an evacuation of the building and the temporary quarantine of 15 people inside a school bus. Hazardous materials and bomb experts, State Police units, fire crews and more responded to the scene at a strip mall.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Department sent a robot into the building to test the air. It found no chemical agents or evidence of an explosion.

Despite the six-hour disruption, postal authorities said the mail would still be delivered Friday.

Postmaster Steve Parrill said about 20 people work in the Ranson branch.

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A reported exploding package and spray of white powder that sent emergency units rushing to a small-town post office turned out to be just the pop of a malfunctioning fluorescent light bulb, authorities said Friday.

You'd think any normal person would know the difference between an exploding light bulb and an exploding package. Maybe normal is the key word here.

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Maybe it was a shipment of Oxycotin from Florida. :laugh:

Damnit! I was waiting for that shipment too! :D

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You'd think any normal person would know the difference between an exploding light bulb and an exploding package. Maybe normal is the key word here.

<postal person>Woah what was that?!

<another postal person>Hmm, seems it was that light bulb over there.

<postal person>Hmm, yea does seem dark and there is broken glass over there too.

<another postal person>Hey, want to get out of work for awhile? Let's say it was an explosion.

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