White Powder Forces Evacuation of Jerome Church

JEROME, Idaho (KTVB) - The Boise Fire Department's hazmat team was called to a church in Jerome County after a parishioner opened a letter and found a white powder inside.

The letter was mailed to Northridge Fellowship, on Golf Course Road, south of Jerome. It was opened Sunday, prompting evacuation of the building at about 9:30 a.m. Lt. Dan Kennedy, with the Jerome County Sheriff's Office, said they do not believe there is a public safety or health concern outside of the church.

On-scene testing on the substance was inconclusive and the powder has been sent to Boise for further testing, Kennedy said. The church member who opened the letter was checked out by paramedics and released. The church was given the all-clear around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The sheriff's office continues to investigate who sent the letter.