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Jed Boal reportingSome frightening moments Monday night for the employees of a West Valley video store. A small powder bomb of some sort exploded and sent eight people to the hospital.
The FBI, the Health Department and West Valley police and fire departments were on the scene trying to figure out just how dangerous this may have been.
About 7:30 pm, a quiet night at the Blockbuster at 5641 W. 3500 South turns chaotic.
Here's what happened:
Firefighters say eight employees were working when they heard a loud pop and a white powder cloud filled the air. Apparently someone had dropped the powder bomb into the video dropoff slot and left.
An employee called 911 and Hazmat moved in. Powder covered a ten foot square area.
Initially, one employee complained of nausea, but those symptoms disappeared and no one complained of any itching, watery eyes or other symptoms.
Hazmat quickly set up a decontamination tent, stripped down the exposed workers, and cleaned them off. All eight workers were sent to Pioneer Hospital as a precaution.
Capt. Bob Fitzgerald/West Valley City Fire Dept.: "WE HAD CALLS OF A WHITE POWDER IN THE BUILDING, WE GOT HERE, THAT'S INDEED WHAT WE FOUND. EMPLOYEES DESCRIBED A 'POP' AND THEN THEY SAW A WHITE POWDER FLOATING IN THE BUILDING."
Authorities were trying to determine what the powder substance is.
