Capitol Hill DSHS building cleared for reoccupancy after being evacuated
Jan 2, 2026, 4:41 PM | Updated: 4:42 pm
Closeup of the Seattle Fire Department insignia on an emergency response vehicle. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) reported that crews evacuated a commercial building in Capitol Hill Friday.
According to KIRO 7, that building was the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services building.
Authorities received a call about a “suspicious letter,” KOMO News reported.
SFD first posted about the HazMat response around 3:15 p.m. Friday.
“As a safety precaution, crews on scene are evacuating the impacted area of the building,” officials wrote on X.
Then, around 4:30 p.m., SFD stated that crews monitored the building and determined it was safe to reoccupy.
No injuries were reported.
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