Response to Local Anthrax Calls

The threat of anthrax has many people taking extra precautions.<br><br>Responding to all the calls is taking a toll on the Tulsa Fire Department.<br><br>In a period during which they normally might have

Thursday, October 18th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The threat of anthrax has many people taking extra precautions.

Responding to all the calls is taking a toll on the Tulsa Fire Department.

In a period during which they normally might have five calls - they're answering two dozen, many of them to check out suspicious items.

One school cafeteria worker called about a powder in the kitchen.

Even though it looked like flour - every precaution was taken - adding to the cost of checking out anthrax.

Captain Jerry Williams,Tulsa Fire Department: "I would probably think about $500 to $1000 per incident depending on how much we had to use to seal off an area, like St Johns was a pretty extensive seal off operation."

The suits and equipment that come into contact with the unknown are bagged until they're tested - and that usually takes weeks.