That explains the packs of middle schoolers wandering around Capitol Hill this afternoon.

Now, dcpublicschools tweets that there was simply an issue with a fluorescent light ballast. The school day as well as all after school programs will continue as scheduled.

So, I guess this entire thread should be ignored.

Okay, last update on this:

"Units cleared building of any hazards, no pt. transports, incident under control".

I am following IAFF36 on Twitter. They reported "multiple pts experiencing diff. breathing, and watering eyes" but then followed up with "EMS 6 reporting patients asymptomatic canceling the mass casualty task force." I'm not sure if that means the entire event was a false alarm or only that it was not as large as originally believed.

Several people exposed to unknown substance.