Suspicious Powder At Bergen County Board Of Elections Brings Hazmat Team

A suspicious powder on an envelope sent to the Bergen County Superintendent of Elections Office brought a hazmat team to the county administration building in Hackensack on Wednesday.

A Bergen County Hazardous Materials Unit deemed the substance safe.
Photo Credit: *HACKENSACK FD*

The Bergen County Hazardous Materials Unit was among the responders to the county administration building after a suspicious powder arrived in an envelope.
Photo Credit: *HACKENSACK FD*

Hackensack firefighters decontaminated Hazmat Unit members.
Photo Credit: *HACKENSACK FD*

Jerry DeMarco

08/10/2022 3:37 p.m.

One person was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center and was released after being evaluated, responders said.

A county Hazardous Materials Unit tested the substance and determined it wasn't harmful, Bergen County Director of Communications Derek Sands said.

It turned out to be powder from a fire extinguisher, Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton said, adding that there wasn't any "criminal nexus" that required investigating.

The dried sodium and potassium bicarbonate apparently had come from a fire at the point of origin, the sheriff said.

The area was cleaned and the building at 1 Bergen County Plaza was reopened for business after about an hour, Sands said.

Staff members had remained in the building, he said.

City firefighters decontaminated the unit members, Hackensack Fire Capt. Justin Derevyanik said.

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