This week, Wabaunsee County Emergency Management contacted the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Emergency Response and Investigations Division to assist in the investigation of an exhibit that may have had deteriorating artifacts located inside the Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum, 227 Missouri Avenue in Alma, according to a media release from the State Fire Marshal.
A strategic plan was put in place with all responding agencies to investigate, assess and safely remove the materials from the museum and then proper disposal of the items.
Deteriorating chemicals can be dangerous if not handled properly. The OSFM commended the Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum and Marci Spaw, museum director, for handling this incident in a way that kept everyone safe. The museum is back open for business.
Responding agencies included the following Topeka Police Bomb Squad; Topeka Fire HazMat; Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s department; Wabaunsee County Emergency Management; Wabaunsee County Fire District No. 6; FBI Joint Terrorism Task force with fire personnel from KC Metro; an ATF rep from KC Metro; and the Emergency Response Division/HazMat and Investigation’s Division from the OSFM.