'Miscommunication' led to scare at P&G tower

Cincinnati Fire Department issued an "all clear" after what officials called a "big miscommunication" led to a hazmat operation at the northeast corner of the Procter & Gamble tower Tuesday morning.

Fire and medical officials were called to the mail room of P&G's downtown Cincinnati headquarters around 11:15 a.m. when reports of a suspicious package first surfaced.

Dispatchers told responding officers someone reportedly found white powder inside a garbage bag in the mail room.

Fire officials at the scene asked the health department to respond and told dispatchers one person was possibly sick.

Officials isolated the mail room and treated one man for respiratory problems, but he refused transport to the hospital. No white substance was found.

Downtown District Fire Chief Greg Potter called the incident a "big miscommunication" from P&G to the fire department.

"This was a much bigger event than it needed to be," Potter said. "It's good training for us, though. Any threat is a credible threat."

No evacuation orders were issued.

Potter said the Cincinnati Fire Department would follow up with P&G to go over future emergency protocol.